asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that this country's entire coastal area is included in any benefits or remissions that may accrue in the negotiations relative to the agreement on fishing policy within the EEC.
10.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Fishing Policy.
9.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of the fishery negotiations with the EEC.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
In response to the cases put forward by Ireland and the other applicant countries the Community have accepted that serious problems exist for these countries in connection with the provision in the fisheries regulation on free access to fishery waters and that a solution must be found for these problems in the context of the enlargement of the Community.
The Community put forward specific proposals to us and to the other applicant countries at the ministerial meetings on 9th November which were designed to solve the problems involved. We were unable to accept these proposals as they would not, in our view, have dealt adequately with the problems which free access would involve for us. The other applicant countries reacted on similar lines in so far as their own particular interests were concerned.
The Community have now agreed to re-examine the whole question in the light of the arguments put forward by the applicant countries. We and the other applicant countries are to have further ministerial meetings with the Community on 29th November and in the meantime the Commission is having discussions with these countries.
My purpose in the negotiations on the fisheries question is to ensure conditions in which the livelihood of our fishermen will be protected, the fish stocks in our waters conserved and our fishing industry expanded.
So, in fact, no progress whatever was made in spite of that long answer. That is the plain meaning of that answer.
If the Deputy has been following he will know——
I listened with the greatest care to what the Minister said.
He may have forgotten——
I have not forgotten.
——that there was a community regulation under which there was full access to the shores of all member States for fishermen from other member States. This regulation has been subjected to examination and a new proposal giving changed limits has been put up by the Commission to the Council, and accepted by the Council and put to us for negotiation. This is a change. We did not accept it and we hope for a further change.
This is £5 million. This is instant politics.
No, this is negotiation. The Europeans do not need any help from the Opposition benches. They are good, tough negotiators.
Thank you very much. The Minister is no good.
All the more so why the Labour Party should not help them if I am no good.
This indicates that the Government are caught by the hip.
I will bring back a package and the Deputy will be delighted with it. In fact it will be so good that he will be very cross.
Will the Minister circulate to Members of the House, for their information, the text of the new proposal?
The proposal made on the last occasion? Yes.
We have not got it. Between now and 29th November is it the Minister's intention to have direct consultations with An Bord Iascaigh Mhara on the outcome of the current negotiations and the future proposals which are likely to emerge in view of the need to continue involving An Bord Iascaigh Mhara at technical advisory level?
A first-class expert from Bord Iascaigh Mhara has been working with the Ambassador in Brussels for some time past. A member of the board, who is also an official of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is accompanying the delegation on their visits. There is no question of any technical advice which is available to us in this country being neglected.