asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what concessions for Irish fisheries are being sought in the current negotiations for membership of the EEC; and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Fisheries Policy.
48.
We are concerned about one feature in particular of the EEC common fisheries policy, namely, the provision for equality of access to the fishery waters of each member State by the fishing vessels of the other member States. This freedom of access could create economic and social problems for our inshore fishermen who depend almost entirely on landings from our exclusive fishery waters and it could also have adverse effects on conservation of our fish resources.
These problems have been repeatedly stressed at the negotiating meetings in Brussels and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has raised the matter at every ministerial meeting with the Communities. In this connection it was agreed towards the end of last year that there should be talks between representatives of Ireland and of the EEC Commission for the purpose of clarifying the content and scope of the fishery regulations and that any problems which would arise for us from implementation of the present regulations could then be discussed. The clarification talks were held in January and February and, at a ministerial meeting on 2nd March, the Minister for Foreign Affairs again raised with the ministers of the Six the problems which would arise for us from free access to our fishery waters and he stressed the need for arriving at a satisfactory solution.
The matter will continue to be pursued actively in the negotiations and I can assure the Deputy that the interests of our fishing industry will be protected to the maximum possible extent.
Two other applicant countries also, Britain and Norway, are concerned about this problem of free access to fishery waters and representatives of those countries have been having clarification talks on the regulations with the EEC Commission.
It is, of course, necessary to bear in mind that, while we are concerned about the problems which would result from free access to our fishery grounds, accession to the Communities would bring many benefits to our fishing industry. The existing customs duties and, in some cases, quantitative restrictions on imports of Irish fish into the present member States would disappear and our fishermen would benefit from the price support arrangements of the common fisheries policy. In addition, the establishment and operation of fishermen's producer organisations would be assisted and assistance would also be available for such matters as the improvement of fishing fleets and research.
I assume the assistance will be for the purpose of modernising our fleet and having a more sophisticated fleet comparable to that of the other countries which are technically so far ahead of us, as the Parliamentary Secretary is aware. This could have disastrous effects as far as we are concerned unless we get the guarantees the Minister is seeking. Would the Parliamentary Secretary be able to tell us when we can expect a reply to the Minister's representations at these meetings?
He may try, but he will not succeed.
The reply is expected reasonably early. I do not think there will be too long to wait.
If, in the event of the reply being favourable, which is most unlikely, is it clear from the Parliamentary Secretary's statement that our fishermen are doomed? I use the word "doomed" deliberately. We will be taken over. Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the foreign vessels will take the fish from our seas and our fishermen will fall on lean times? In view of that, is it not quite clear that membership of the EEC will be a grave disadvantage as far as our fishermen are concerned.
Hear, hear.
As I have already stated, we are very much aware of the difficulties and problems facing our fishing industry and the challenge that will have to be met if we become members of the EEC. On the other hand, there are advantages, which I have spelled out, and I have every confidence that our negotiating team will obtain for our fishing industry as a whole the best possible advantages they can.
We know what those are already in the Treaty of Rome.
I do not go along with this talk of "doom" if we go into the EEC.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs said it was that yesterday.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs said he could not change the Treaty of Rome.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he would be prepared to circulate to Deputies copies of the memorandum showing the very considerable effects of entry on the Irish fishing industry submitted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the negotiating team to the commissioners in Brussels?
I understand all information, other than that which is confidential, is being made available.
The Parliamentary Secretary will agree that in the information circulated to date by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to Members of this House there is specific mention of the fact that a memorandum has been submitted by the Irish Government to the Commission, but there is no indication about the contents of the memorandum. It is most disturbing that the Irish negotiators and a large number of European negotiators should have full access to the information while Deputies have no access to it.
Before——
I am calling Question No. 49. We have discussed Question No. 48 at length.
One part of this document is confidential and too much is being withheld from Deputies in every field of activity. The youngest clerk can examine such documents but we cannot. Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what parts of the document are being withheld and which should be kept secret as far as the Parliament and the nation are concerned?
This is a matter entirely for the Minister for Foreign Affairs but as I see it he is making all the information possible available to Deputies but he just cannot break confidence in regard to documents which are confidential.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 49. We cannot discuss this question all evening.
It may surprise Deputies to learn that I represent the fifth largest shipping port in the country. The Parliamentary Secretary is going there tonight and we will have the pleasure of informing fishermen that he will not give us information that we sought. The contents of that memorandum are known to many people and it is not so highly confidential as he may assume and therefore will he circulate it to the House and to fishermen? If they are to survive they should know what their chances are rather than have to wait for a sea food festival to get some information.
(Interruptions.)