asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement in relation to the proposal by the European Commission regarding the 12 mile fishing limit for Ireland and the Government's attitude to this proposal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Limit.
28.
As I informed the House on 17th February the Community is now reviewing the existing common fisheries policy. This is because of the major change in circumstances which will result from the creation of 200 mile economic zones expected to emerge from the Law of the Sea Conference. On 18th February the Commission presented proposed guidelines to the Council for a new Community fisheries regime. These guidelines will be examined by the Committee of Permanent Representatives and in due course by the Council of Ministers.
I have already explained to the House that we are seeking a substantial exclusive band reserved for Irish boats within the 200 mile zone and, in addition, a preferential quota in the remainder of the zone. I may say that we regard the development potential of the industry in the context of regional development in the Community as particularly important and that to satisfy Irish needs the new regime must take this essential consideration into account.
I do not regard the exclusive band of 12 miles which the Commission has proposed, with a progressive phasingout of traditional rights, as sufficient from Ireland's point of view.
In discussions at Community level we will be making the strongest possible case for a new regime which will allow for the growth of our fishing industry in a wide coastal band while providing the maximum opportunity for expansion in the outer zone. I expect that the negotiations on this issue will be fairly long drawn out and because some of our partners have interests which do not accord with ours these negotiations will be difficult. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that we will achieve a regime which will put our fishermen in a position to exploit the benefits of the new 200 mile zone while meeting the reasonable requirements of our Community partners.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House what exactly the Government are seeking in this exclusive zone? Are they looking for a 50 mile exclusive limit? Can he say exactly what the Government are pressing for?
The Government accept that the demand of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation for 50 miles is a reasonable one, and the Government propose to make the best possible case it can and the strongest possible case for the maximum possible exclusive band. The Deputy can be assured that that will be done and already is being done, but the Deputy will appreciate that this case is being made by us at the very time when the nations which now fish our waters are being constricted or being pushed back from other traditional fishing areas or will be very shortly pushed back from them because of the emergence of a generalised 200 mile economic zone everywhere else in the world, including Norway and Iceland, which will affect them very badly. At the very time when they are looking for treatment which will let them down lightly at a difficult time, that is the very moment when we are looking for the same kind of treatment which will make things more difficult for them. So that while, of course, the Government must have the interests of Irish fishermen uppermost in their minds, the Deputy and the House will appreciate that we will be making that case at the most difficult time.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary accept that regional development especially in the west of Ireland must necessarily be closely associated with the development of the fishing industry in that area, and that therefore the uniform application throughout the Community of a 12 mile inner zone could hardly be justified by the Community? On the contrary, a far greater inner zone in the western area especially would be a reasonable and equitable demand for the Government to make.
The Government accepts the point taken by Deputy Gibbons. Not only do they accept it but it is their strongest point in these negotiations. The Deputy can be assured that point is being pressed particularly hard.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Questions Nos. 16 and 17 on today's Order Paper.
I will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.