19. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he will use the opportunity of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union to get fairness for Irish fishing communities from the CFP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51675/26]

Ireland currently holds the six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union which commenced on 1 July and will continue through to 31 December 2026. During this period, Ireland will be responsible for driving the EU policy agenda and advancing work on EU legislative and policy initiatives.

Last month, Government launched the Irish Presidency Priorities and Policy Programme which sets out our overall approach for the 2026 Presidency, guided by three central pillars: security, competitiveness and values. These themes will be at the core of the Irish Presidency AgriFish Council agenda.

During Ireland’s Presidency, we will act as an honest broker, working constructively with all Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to facilitate progress on fisheries proposals, future funding for fisheries and aquaculture as well as coordinating Member States' positions in Third Country consultations and advancing discussions on the outcome of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation.

The Commission’s report on its Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation was published on 30 April. The first substantive discussion took place at the June AgriFish Council under the Cypriot Presidency.

The Irish Presidency will take these discussions forward, including through informal discussions, and facilitate Council’s engagement and input into the Commission’s Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, due to be published later in 2026.