asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the current sutuation on negotiations for an EEC common fisheries policy.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Fisheries Policy.
2.
These negotiations were concluded at the Council of EEC Fisheries Ministers held on 25 January 1983 when a new common fisheries policy was agreed.
Could the Minister give us details of any proposals he has made to protect the interests of Irish fishermen?
I should like to inform the Deputy that at that meeting, before agreeing to the package put forward by the Commission to the Council, I sought assurances from the Commission and the Council in relation to certain aspects of the policy as proposed, the most important being the possibility by the Danish fishermen of the establishment of rights to fish in future in Irish waters. This undertaking was given to me and was included in the declaration. I will quote the relevant sentence which concerns this point—
The Council notes that, in this context, Denmark renounces its claims regarding Western mackerel.
This, basically, is the position and, furthermore, to ensure that this declaration was not open to misinterpretation, a further declaration contained the following—
The Community TAC for Western Mackerel is reserved to the fishermen of the Member States that have traditionally fished on this stock.
That puts beyond yea or nay the possibility of the establishment by Danish fishermen of a right in the future to fish Western stock mackerel.
Is the Minister satisfied that the Danish Government and Danish fishing industries are willing to comply with the agreement as laid down?
The position is that a common fisheries policy has been agreed by ten member states, of which Denmark is one. If we are to abide by a collective decision made within the Council by ten member states, I must assume that the undertakings given and included in written declarations are to be taken at their face value. Obviously, if difficulties arise at a later stage it will be a matter again for the Council collectively to decide on what action might be taken in the form of penalties or whatever. However, we must take the declaration at face value and I assume that this problem has now been resolved, to my satisfaction at any rate.
Does the Minister concede that special measures are necessary for the Irish fishing industry? If he concedes that, what action is he taking to do something for the fishermen?
I agree that the state of the industry in this country by comparison with other member states is not good. We have a great deal of ground to make up in the industry and I have always felt it is within the framework of a common fisheries policy that this kind of development can come about. We now have a common fisheries policy and, prior to its emergence, there was recognition by the EEC that our industry was backward in relation to other countries. For that reason, in relation to structural measures, they agreed to a 50 per cent grant towards structural aid when the normal grant applicable to other countries was 25 per cent. There is recognition within the EEC of our position and I hope that some benefits will accrue to us from that recognition which has been there since 1976.
Is the Minister satisfied that east coast fishermen are getting a fair crack of the whip in relation to EEC policy on fishing?
The Deputy can be assured that the Minister would not have agreed, on our behalf, to a common fisheries policy if he was not satisfied that all fishermen got a fair crack of the whip.
A final supplementary from Deputy Fitzgerald.
Is the Minister aware that east coast fishermen have recently expressed concern that they are being left out in the cold and that there is an over-emphasis on Killybegs?
I do not accept that there are any grounds for concern by eastern fishermen, I see no reason for their apprehension.
The Chair realises this is an important matter but we cannot have a debate on it. We must go on to the next question.