Vol. 330 No. 5
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he is now in a position to state the steps he is prepared to take, following his promised survey of the depressed state of the Irish fishing industry, to introduce national aids for fishermen pending agreement on a common EEC fisheries policy; and whether he has anything further to report on his promise to press at EEC level for adequate protection mechanisms against low cost imports from outside the Community.
50.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry whether the Government or the European Community have proposals to give early assistance to the fishing industry and in particular to protect the industry from unfair competition from non-European suppliers of fish.
(Cavan-Monaghan): With the permission of the Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 40 and 50 together.
Following consultations with fishermen's representatives, the Government have already introduced a temporary scheme for fishermen involving expenditure not exceeding £1.6 million.
The scheme involves interest subvention measures on boat loans for all of 1981, costing approximately £1.2 million, together with an increase in the excise duty rebate on fuel oil of a further 5p per gallon applicable from 1 June to the end of this year, costing approximately £400,000. In addition fishermen will continue to have access to EEC funding towards the building and modernisation of fishing vessels and the EEC intervention arrangements in support of fish prices.
On the question of adequate protection mechanisms against low cost imports from non-EEC countries, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a revised EEC framework regulation governing the common organisation of the market in fishery products was agreed at the Fisheries Council on 29-30 September last. The new regulation, which will be brought into force at the earliest possible date, includes provisions which generally tighten up on the control of low cost third country imports. The adjustments to the existing imports regime will enable the Commission to intervene quickly and effectively in the event of such imports disturbing the balance of the Community market. In particular, the new regulation will strengthen the reference price system, establish definite criteria for assessing market disturbance and terminate certain permanent duty suspensions existing under the present regulation which was adopted prior to Ireland's accession to the EEC.
At the instigation of Ireland and the United Kingdom Government, the EEC Commission took action last August by adopting a regulation prohibiting the release for free circulation in both countries of frozen fillets of code which failed to comply with the official EEC reference price. Imports of this product at low prices had been causing disturbances on the United Kingdom market in particular and the prohibition will remain in force until 30 November 1981, when it will be subject to review.
In the future my Department will continue to oppose requests for new or continued duty suspensions in respect of fishery products which could adversely affect our domestic production. In addition, in the context of the forthcoming fishery prices review for the 1982 marketing year, we will be pressing for substantial increases in reference prices.
Am I to understand from the Minister's lengthy reply, for which I thank him, that he is happy that the aids being given to fishermen will tide them over until a fisheries agreement has been completed?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am sure the Deputy will agree that one can never be completely satisfied with aids but I believe the fishermen are reasonably satisfied with them and that they are as good as could reasonably be provided this year.
If they are reasonably satisfied then leave them alone.
