asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he will outline the commission's proposals for the doubling of EC funding to the Irish fishing industry over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Funding of Irish Fishing.
21.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the recent commission proposal for measures to improve the structures in the fisheries and acquaculture sectors. As the proposal is a rather comprehensive one, I have arranged for a copy of it to be placed in the Library. In general, it provides for a ten year programme of structural aids for the renewal and modernisation of fishing fleets, aquaculture projects, exploratory fishing, joint ventures, provision of facilities at fishing ports, market exploration and adjustment of fleet capacity. My colleague, Deputy Liam Kavanagh, Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry, is at present attending a Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels at which this proposal is being discussed.
Can the Minister give us some idea of the overall finance involved?
As I said, the new proposal will cover a ten year period from 1987 to 1996. As the Deputy is aware it will not be in operation until it is passed by the Minister. The proposal indicates there will be £637.6 million available over the first five years of that period, from 1987 to 1992. All grants will depend on the production of two multi-annual guidance programmes for each of the five year periods. These will be subject to annual updating. A register of persons will be drawn up on the basis of these programmes and data will be supplied to the member states. It will have to be drawn up for the simple reason that the present regulations expire at the end of this year. There will have to be a new programme if we want further aid from the EC.
What commitment is being made by the Government and by the Minister's Department? Are they taking the necessary steps to make that money available in next year's budget?
The purpose of the Minister's visit to Brussels this week is to ensure that this programme is adopted in the most satisfactory way possible to suit the needs of the fishing industry.
What boats will be excluded? Do the Department intend changing their policy radically to allow an expansion of the fleet? At the moment if fishermen want to purchase a new boat or obtain a mackerel licence, the Minister's Department insist that boats in use at the moment be sold outside the country.
The question of licences is a different issue.
There is no point in getting money if we cannot get the boats.
We cannot have a debate on this.
Is the Minister au fait with the policy?
I am au fait with the present policy. A number of options will be offered by the EC and a certain amount of that fund will be available to the Irish fishing industry. It is up to the people who represent us there on the Civil Service end and particularly on the political front to ensure that the best deal is made available to Irish fishermen regardless of what Government are in office. I presume it would be the objective of the Minister and the Government to make the best deal so that this country would get the maximum amount available.
Can the Minister give us some indication——
We cannot have a debate on this. We should move on.
We are dealing with a very important issue.
Most issues are important.
We are dealing with the future development of the fishing industry. In view of the enlargement of the Community and the fact that we now have a huge additional fleet, the Spanish and Portuguese fleet, the Minister must be aware that the funding proposed is totally inadequate. Will he deal with that when the proposal comes before the Council?
Minister Kavanagh is dealing with it at the moment.
Will he raise the financial aspect? Under the proposal as submitted already, it is evident to everybody that the funding, in view of the large fleet we now have, will be totally inadequate and we will suffer more than any other sector of the industry because of that. Will the Minister take a stand on this in Brussels?
Did I hear the Deputy say the large fleet we have at the moment?
In the Community.
That is an admission by him that the fishing industry is prospering.
It is no thanks to the Minister.
I have full confidence the Minister will deliver the goods.
The industry has no confidence in the Minister.
(Interruptions.)
I accept the Deputy has to say things like that but I would not dare to express an opinion like that about him.
I am calling the next question.