andMr. White asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if, in view of reports in this morning's papers with regard to statements by him in Brussels about the negotiating situation in relation to the coastal band, he will make an urgent statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Fishery Limits.
The Fish Council has now ended without reaching any decision on quotas or access and the Irish position in relation to these two important aspects of fishery policy remains unchanged.
Could the Minister state exactly what is the Irish position on the question of the coastal band bearing in mind that in 1977 the position of the Government was for a 50-mile band and, more important, that the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry is quoted in today's Irish Independent as saying that it was not realistic now to think in terms of a totally exclusive 12-mile band?
The Irish position now clearly is one of quotas and access, provisional quotas. What we want to ensure in regard to access is that to as great degree as possible Irish fishermen with their boats and gear will have the greatest possible share in fishing the waters adjacent to Ireland.
Does that mean that the exclusive band is now sold out by this Government?
No.
Deputies
Yes.
No.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach has a smile at that and I do not blame him.
That is the first time he has smiled in 18 months.
As far as Ireland is concerned, our objective is to ensure that the 12-mile zone from our base line is reserved for Irish fishermen subject to a quantification in regard to historic rights. One of the matters that has to be resolved historically is regarding rights which exist already.
May I take it, then, that the substance of the Minister's reply is——
A question please, Deputy, not a statement.
Is it a fact that the Minister, his Government and his friends have thrown in the towel in regard to an exclusive band and what we are talking about now is preferential treatment in regard to this 12-mile band with reference to French trawlers and so on?
No, our negotiating position is the 12-mile limit.
Abandoned by the Minister in this morning's paper.
No.
Is that report incorrect?
That report is incorrect.
(Interruptions.)
Our negotiating position is that we retain our objective to secure a 12-mile band for Irish fishermen and reserve zones in that area and, in addition to that, in the whole area out to 200 miles to secure preferential quotas which already have been acknowledged by the Commission and the Community.
In his reply the Minister made reference to access for our fishermen. Access to what?
To our waters.
What waters?
Fishing waters out to 200 miles.
The Minister states that this morning's paper is incorrect and that the journalist who quoted him as saying that to think in terms of quotas——
The Deputy should not quote.
——was falsifying the Minister's remark. Is that the Minister's allegation?
I have no knowledge whatever of what report appears in the daily papers. All I know is that the Fish Council ended today and that our negotiating position remains until the Fish Council is reconvened.
A final supplementary.
I ask the Minister to bear in mind that, if after selling out the 50-mile limit they now sell out the 12-mile limit, they have done immeasurable harm to this country for decades and centuries ahead.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
The Deputy is talking nonsense.
You threw out the 50-mile limit.
This is the last day for questions before the recess. Written replies will be given to the remaining questions for oral answer on the Order Paper. However, if any Deputy wishes to have his questions left until after the recess, he should notify the General Office to that effect.