asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will give the details of the compensation scheme available to fishermen who had to stop fishing for herring in the Celtic Sea because of the EEC ban; the total amount of money paid out under this scheme, and the amount paid to Irish fishermen.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Herring Fishing.
7.
The EEC Commission's proposals in this matter are contained in document No. R./2519/77 (AGRI 679) (RELEX 90) a copy of which I have arranged to be placed in the library. These proposals have not yet been adopted by the Council of Ministers and consequently no compensation has yet been paid.
Would I be right in thinking these proposals were originally brought forward three years ago?
The proposals were brought forward on 24-25 October 1977 but were not discussed in depth by the Council at that time. I raised them again at the January meeting of this year and the Italian Presidency gave an undertaking to have them considered and examined. We have reminded our representation in Brussels to remind the presidency of this intention. We have heard nothing since.
I am grateful the Minister revived the matter but would he not agree that the delay has been of undue length and that a number of Irish fishermen who traditionally fished for herring in the Irish Sea are in financial difficulties because this measure has not been implemented?
The matter has been let lie for a long time and we should have an answer one way or the other. I would not like to comment on difficulties experienced by fishermen in any one area.
Has the Minister had many claims from Irish fishermen who are being deprived of the right to fish in the Celtic Sea?
I do not have that information at my disposal but I will make it available to the Deputy if it is in the Department.
Is it the position that these fishermen will be given compensation?
If there is agreement at EEC level that compensation should be paid applications will be invited. We will have an obligation to meet 50 per cent of the amount of compensation and match it £ for £. An examination would have to be carried out on the losses suffered by people and that would be based on their catches for previous years. It will require a lot of research and work.
Is the Minister aware that England have given their fishermen a subsidy of £3 million and, that being so, our Government have been very far behind in that at this stage we have not been able to offer compensation to fishermen who have been hard hit?
I would not consider that Britain should be held up as models of Community practice.
I have permitted a number of supplementaries. We must curtail them.
Their decisions would not be something we would want to follow.
They have treated their fishermen better.
I am calling the next question.
8.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the total amount of herring caught by the European Community countries in 1979 under the bye-catch rule and the tonnage caught by each country.
Bye-catches of herring are not recorded separately by EEC member countries but such catches are included in the total recorded herring catches.
Surely the Minister must agree that there is something wrong where EEC fishermen have been allowed to have a 5 per cent bye-catch and the Minister now says that there is no recording of the actual number of herrings? The Irish fishermen are sticking to the rules but the others are not.
This is argument. It is giving information rather than seeking it.
The question is open to misinterpretation. The Deputy possibly has in mind bye-catches of fish in the Celtic Sea or zone 6A. Bye-catches are not recorded separately but are included in the total catch. They could be legal catches, bye-catches or illegal catches. Some member states do not submit details of these catches. I have figures supplied by members of the ICES working groups for 1979 and figures for the Celtic Sea for 1978. If they would be useful to the Deputy I will have them sent to him.
9.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if the Celtic Sea will be open to Irish boats for fishing in the 1980 season and if not, if compensation will be paid to Irish herring fishermen and the amount involved.
A decision on whether or not the Celtic Sea herring fishery will re-open this year must await the 1980 scientific recommendations of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea which are expected to be available by the end of June. The EEC Commission proposals on compensation for fishermen have not yet been adopted and I am not therefore in a position to say at this stage whether compensation will be payable in the event of the closure of the herring fishery having to be continued.
Am I wrong in thinking that the survey has not been finalised? My information is that it has and that the Department of Fisheries have the data at present and that a decision should be made straight away?
The herring and larval survey by Irish scientists has been finalised and presented in Copenhagen. The scientists there will make a recommendation which will have to be translated into further action by the EEC Commission. The reason for the restrictions is based on the fact that scientists reported that stocks had decreased to 6,000 tons in the Celtic Sea. We have reason to believe that that amount has recruited itself. Whether it is up to the limit or threshold needed to allow fishing or not, we will have to wait for the combined opinion of the scientists in the EEC.
Is it the position that a definite decision will be taken?
Question No. 10.
A definite decision will be made this year, hopefully—I am only making an educated guess—by the end of June or July.
I wish the Minister would not reply except when the Chair has given permission for the question to be asked.
I will obey your instructions religiously from now on, Sir.
Asking and answering question across the floor in contempt of the Chair does not impress me.
Is the Minister aware that it is important that this decision be made in June and will he tell the House that it will be?
I am so aware.
When is it expected that the decision on the payment of compensation will be made?
The matter with regard to the opening of the Celtic Sea and 6A will be considered by the Council of Ministers probably in September. I may have misled the House when I said June. The matter of compensation will be considered as soon as the Council of Ministers and the Commission come up with their decision in the matter.
When is that expected?
I will raise it on the next occasion that I get an opportunity.