In light of the ongoing and deepening crisis in the fishing sector and the severe impact it continues to have on coastal and inland communities, can the Minister provide an update on the fishing task force established by the Government earlier in 2026 to examine the future sustainability and viability of the sector? Can he confirm the task force has met in accordance with its intended schedule, the number of meetings that have taken place, and the current status of its work? When can fisherman and affected communities expect concrete measures arising from the process? Given the urgency on the ground, will he also clarify what interim supports or actions are being advanced pending the task force's final report?

I thank Deputy Collins for raising this important issue. The Food Vision seafood sector group was launched on 16 February by me and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. The group was established in a response to the significantly reduced fishing opportunities for 2026 and will operate under the auspices of the Food Vision 2030 group, through which we have had a series of Food Vision subgroups to look at and tackle key areas. It is considering the challenges facing all three components of the Irish seafood sector, from the catch fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing. The group's membership is comprised of representatives from across the seafood industry. Mr. Michael Berkery, the former general secretary of the IFA, has been appointed as the independent chairperson for this group.

In answer to the Deputy's direct question, he was tasked with drafting a chairman's report by June of this year. There has been a series of meetings since 16 February, the meeting of the task force group that I attended in Howth. The deadline for receipt of seafood industry submissions was 2 March. On 10 and 11 March, there were five sector-specific meetings held in the Department's Backweston campus. Representatives from across the seafood industry have attended and have had a series of meetings. That work has been ongoing. I commend everyone on their very strong commitment to this and look forward to receiving the chairman's report in the near future.