The outcome of the recent EU Fisheries Council has landed a devastating blow on Irish fishing families in coastal communities. It is an affront to Ireland's sovereignty over its national resources. Irish fishermen now face catastrophic losses. Jobs are at risk in my own county and elsewhere. Local economies are going to be stripped of hundreds of millions of euro and families who have worked the sea for generations are being told that their livelihoods may no longer survive. This is all happening at a time vast wealth continues to be extracted from Irish waters for the benefit of powerful interests based elsewhere. Safeguards such as the Hague preferences, designed to recognise Ireland's preferable position and underdeveloped fleet, were blocked and stripped away, leaving Irish fishermen exposed in their own waters. Serious questions have been raised about the influence of large EU-based corporate actors in shaping these outcomes. It is not just a policy failure; it is a failure of political will. Unlike other EU leaders, the Taoiseach failed to show up on this issue, as did the Tánaiste. Does the Government have a battle plan for Ireland's seafood industry? "Yes" or "No". Will it include immediate action, including legal action to defend Irish fishing livelihoods, which have been devastated as a result of this deal?

It has been, but it is important we are honest with fishermen. I would like to know which fishing representative body does not feel that I showed up or that the Taoiseach showed up, considering I met them, and I was in touch directly with the European Commission. The Taoiseach met them, as did the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries, and the senior Minister, Deputy Heydon. Deputy Doherty is right that this is a devastating blow for fisheries but it is also a devastating blow we should try and work collaboratively on.

The Deputy represents a constituency that is very significantly impacted by this, as are other constituencies, but I do acknowledge the particular impact in Donegal. We must and we will examine all options available. We are establishing a Food Vision seafood group for a whole-of-government mechanism to assess what sustainable supports for the sector look like. The Department of Finance will engage constructively with the work as it progresses. We need to look at short-term resilience and long-term sustainability measures in coastal communities. There is also a broader issue involving looking at the European fisheries policy as well.

We were talking about qualified majority and minority voting. The Irish text on the Hague preferences did not even make the final compromise text because of a blocking minority led by France, supported by the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Belgium. We will work very closely on this. I am happy to work on a cross-party basis too.