asked the Minister for External Affairs what has been the outcome of representations to the EEC with regard to protecting the livelihood of Irish fishermen when this country becomes a member; and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
5.
I would refer the Deputy to my statement in the House on 27th January in reply to a question on the progress of our negotiations with the European Communities in which I dealt with the question of fisheries and our special concern with this question in the negotiations.
How many meetings has the Minister had with the Commission about this question?
I raised the question of fisheries at all the meetings I have had. I think there have been two ministerial meetings since the announcement of the policy. It was also raised at Ministers' deputies level. There have been at least two, or probably three, of those meetings. There has been a meeting with the Commission at technical level to study the regulations and how they will affect us and, when it is clear from this study how the regulations will affect our fishermen, I expect to be able to deal with the matter on negotiation with the Council.
Is it not likely when we become a member, if we do become a member, that European boats will fish in Irish waters and take away the fish? At present herrings are fetching £13 per cran. Will foreign trawlers not be detrimental to the interests of the Irish fishermen? The European boats will have the same right to fish as Irish fishermen.
There are different regulations and the one in regard to access would have serious effect on our Irish fishermen who enjoy protection off our coasts. The regulation would give access to other members of the European Economic Community and that would be a very serious situation for our inshore fishermen. There is a provision for protection in certain cases by limiting access to fishing for a certain type of fish, outside the three mile limit, for a limited period. The other applicant countries are equally concerned with us and together we shall be trying to arrange to protect the interests of our inshore fishermen. It is a very serious problem for us.
Has the Minister had any discussions with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries about modernising our fleet and enabling our fishermen to compete with the European fishermen if the worst comes to the worst?
The Deputy may take it that there is full communication between us in this matter. One of the regulations of the Community would provide for the Community financing such structural improvements in the fishery fleet as well as marketing. There are some advantages in the policy also. We may take it that the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries is conscious of the needs.
Would the Minister take steps to meet the fishermen and allay the fears and suspicions they have about this matter?
That is a separate question.
Could the Minister state how many meetings he has had with the Norwegian Government on this subject in view of our common interest in the matter?
There is common interest in that the three applicants have expressed concern to the Community. I am visiting Norway for discussions on membership in about a months time.
Will this be the first meeting of this nature?
I met their Minister but I want to visit the country itself.
The Minister will come back from Norway in a hurry.
I am also prepared to meet our own fishermen but the Deputy must be aware that one of the conditions of negotiation for membership of the Community which applies to the four applicants is that we accept the Treaty of Rome and decisions already taken under it. This is the position of the Commission. I do not want to lessen in any way the serious implications of that aspect of the fishery policy. I would certainly meet the fishermen and discuss it but I could not guarantee to be able to allay all their anxieties.
Will foreign fishermen be able to fish in Irish waters in the same way as Irish fishermen when we become members of the Community?
This has not been negotiated. At the moment fishermen from any member country could fish in the waters of another member country. This regulation came in after we had begun the negotiations. We felt that, perhaps, it could have waited until we were members and had a say in it. We will try to influence the application of this regulation because it would have a serious effect but at present the study that is going on is a technical one to try to find out fairly accurately how bad an effect it would have on our fishermen. When we are clearly in possession of that knowledge we shall negotiate with the Community and see if we can improve the position.