I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1987, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for the Marine, including certain services, adminstered by that Office, and for payment of certain grants and sundry grants-in-aid.
It is a privilege for me, as first Minister for the Marine in the history of the State, to introduce this supplementary estimate for Roinn na Mara and thereby afford the House an opportunity to debate marine affairs and fisheries.
When in Opposition, Fianna Fáil prepared a policy document entitled "Roinn na Mara, Department of the Marine". This document highlighted weaknesses in the approach of central Government to the marine economy. It outlined, inter alia, (i) wasteful utilisation of Government financial and human resources; (ii) demarcation overlaps in policy between Government Departments and agencies operating both within and outside the marine field; (iii) absence of forward development planning relating to existing established marine resources and those with developmental potential; (iv) lack of cohesion in approach to international maritime developments which impinge on national interests; and (v) inadequate investment in research and development. All of these indicated very clearly the need for a new initiative in this area.
It was also pointed out that no fewer than nine of the then existing Departments had varying degrees of involvement in marine development. While involvement of some of these Departments in maritime affairs may be justifiable, this fragmentation led to the absence of an overall cohesive marine policy. Fianna Fáil promised to end this unsatisfactory situation in the marine and establish a new marine Department. This has been done. Relevant functions previously performed by the Departments of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry, Communications and the Gaeltacht have been transferred to the new Department. These functions include sea and inland fisheries, aquaculture development, fishery harbours, commercial harbours, licensing of the foreshore, shipping, marine search, rescue, and safety, marine pollution and dumping at sea. Other marine related activities are being reviewed with a view to ascertaining the most effective administrative location for them.
The overall situation since the foundation of the State has been that we have never had an administrative structure which would look at the marine economic potential development area and put an administrative structure in place which would utilise to the maximum potential in every aspect this huge resource we have as an island nation. The decision speedily taken by the Government is a recognition of the importance of the marine economy and the necessity for the commercial drive and development which is so essential if we are to exploit to the fullest possibility the jobs and revenue for the State from the vast potential we have as an island nation.
The sea and shellfish catches, excluding salmon, by Irish registered vessels in 1986 amounted to 223,450 tonnes valued at £64.4 million compared to 222,200 tonnes in 1985 valued at £60 million. Higher fish prices and a sharp reduction in fuel oil prices have resulted in a major upturn in the fortunes of the sea fishing industry. A good indication of the recovery of the industry and of future expectations is the upsurge, in 1986, in grant and loan applications to BIM for new vessels in the size range of 18 metres to 33 metres. This year also saw the £6 million supertrawler Atlantic Challenge, Ireland's biggest fishing vessel, join the fleet. By year end a further four vessels in the 200-300 ft. class, with on-board processing facilities, geared mainly towards non-quota horse mackerel and blue whiting fisheries were placed on order.
The fish processing industry had a year of mixed fortunes but export sales performance was nevertheless exceptionally good. There were buoyant markets for white fish, herring roe and shellfish, shore-frozen horse mackerel and a growing range of added-value products. The total value of exports is estimated at £102 million. Erratic supplies of whitefish accompanied by high quayside prices and an unsatisfactory mackerel season were the main difficulties encountered. The mackerel season started off with excess supply, low demand and full cold stores from 1985 but that situation had been reversed by the end of the year.
Investment in shore based fish processing facilities continued in 1986. Five fish processing projects, with an associated fixed asset investment of £3.84 million, received State aid amounting to £714,000 and were approved by the EC Commission for FEOGA grant-aid of £1.11 million.
The 1987 provision for Bord Iascaigh Mhara is £9.547 million. This includes a capital allocation of £2.02 million to be spent mainly on grants for the purchase of new fishing vessels, the improvement of existing vessels and the setting up of mariculture projects. A further £2.385 million is provided for loans by BIM to fishermen for the purchase of new or secondhand vessels and for vessel improvements. The BIM investment will be supplemented by EC grants and bank loans.
The Government consider that BIM are the appropriate agency for all market development of fish and have, therefore, reversed the decision of the previous Government that the marketing function be transferred to CTT. The fishing industry requires a totally integrated approach from production through to marketing and BIM have the necessary expertise at all stages of the production-marketing chain. I might add that this decision has the unanimous support of all sectors of the fishing industry.
On the sea fisheries side, we continue to work within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy, the provisions of which are applicable in all member states. The policy has been strengthened in recent times by the introduction of a number of conservation and technical regulations. Our fishermen should continue to support these measures so that we may benefit from the consequent increases in stock levels in the future.
The single most important element of the Common Fisheries Policy from our point of view is, of course, the catch quotas available to the Irish fishing fleet. The quotas available in 1987 were agreed last December. Discussions on the 1988 quotas will not take place until later this year. I felt that I could not wait that long to present my views on these quotas and other matters affecting the Irish fishing industry and so during April both the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, and myself went to Brussels to meet with the Commissioner with responsibility for Fisheries, Mr. Cardoso E. Cunha.
During the discussions, which covered a wide range of issues, we raised the question of Irish quotas generally with specific emphasis on those species of greatest importance to us. We invited the Commissioner to visit Ireland and see the situation at first hand. It is expected that this visit will take place some time next month and I will be availing of that opportunity to press again for the maximum quotas possible for Irish fishermen. It would be my intention that during his visit the Commissioner should meet with various fishing groups so that he will be fully aware of the Irish situation. I propose also during the Commissioner's visit to take him to some of the fishing harbours and landing places so that he can see the position in which the Irish fishing industry is now poised and whether we can identify clearly the potential we have for further development and expansion in the area of fishing activities.
I am convinced that there is significant scope for the development and expansion of the Irish fishing industry. Already we are developing a highly lucrative nephrops fishery and there is also scope for increased fishing effort on whitefish. It is important that we should utilise our whitefish quotas, as failure to do so may militate against us in our quest for increased quotas. In addition, the shortfall in the availability of whitefish, on the UK market in particular, consequent on the reduced whitefish quotas in the North Sea, means that top prices are available to our fishermen. We should encourage the industry, particularly the fishermen to use the maximum quotas available which at the moment are not being fully taken up. It is difficult to make a case for increased quotas when within the existing quota arrangement some of the species of fish available to Irish fishermen are not being fully taken up.
Interest has been expressed by a number of our fishermen in the past in conducting exploratory fishing to determine the extent of the possibilities that exist in relation to certain species, particularly non-quota ones. Should these efforts prove successful then significant new possibilities could be opened up for our fishermen. This is the type of "pioneering spirit" which must be encouraged and supported.
In the event of quotas being introduced for some of the species which are presently non-quota, our quota will be determined on our historic performance in these areas. I would draw the attention of the industry to the opportunities that are there and to the fact that if quotas are introduced for new species our quota will be determined by our past efforts. It is important now to fish these species to the maximum possible.
The new EC structures package offers continued opportunities to the industry by way of financial assistance towards fleet modernisation and renewal, aquaculture, etc. It includes a number of new and innovative measures such as aid for searching out new markets, provision of facilities at ports, both of which are particularly welcome from my point of view. We have benefited considerably from the Community's schemes in the past and it is my intention that we should seek to increase this in the future in order to promote the development and expansion of the Irish fishing industry. To this end the BIM marine credit plan is being reviewed and consideration is being given to the inclusion of vessels over 33 metres under the plan in order that they may qualify for EC aid.
The amount allocated this year in Subhead C2 of the Vote for fishery harbour development is £1,700,000. This sum in the main will be used for ongoing harbour development works at a number of locations with a small amount being allocated to some minor new works which are urgently needed. A small amount of money to develop some of the smaller landing places and harbours could be of great benefit to the fishermen in these areas. It could mean the difference between the fleet being able to expand fishing activities and not being able to expand at all. I will be looking at some of the smaller landing places to see how small amounts of money can help to improve facilities and help the overall fishing effort.
The general interest in fish-farming continues to grow particularly in salmon farming. Generous grants are available for both pilot and commercial scale projects to encourage further development to take place. The new EC structures policy negotiated last year makes specific allocations for aquaculture and will greatly assist development of the industry in the coming years.
Notable success has been achieved recently on the implementation of the designation process provided for under the 1980 Fisheries Act. Fourteen areas have now been designated. These designations provide a sound legal basis for the future development of aquaculture and include virtually all of the area suitable for mariculture from Greatman's Bay in County Galway to Broadhaven Bay in County Mayo. Extensive areas in Counties Donegal, Kerry and Louth have also been designated.
Production of farmed salmon in 1986 amounted to 1,215 tonnes which was more than double the 1985 figure. It is estimated that by 1992 production will have reached at least 10,000 tonnes — a significant increase by any standard.
Shellfish production is also set to rise dramatically during the coming years with a number of local community based oyster fishery development plans coming to fruition.
The future for aquaculture in Ireland is very hopeful but it is essential that proper arrangments are in place to realise its full potential. I am at present engaged in a review of the aquaculture development programme and I will shortly be making detailed proposals to the Government in this area.
The amount being allocated to Inland Fisheries Development is £5,582,000. Of this a sum of £4,814,000 is being allocated to the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards to enable them to carry out their functions in the conservation, protection and development of our inland fisheries. In addition a sum of £350,000 has been provided for the purchase of the very valuable Moy Fishery at Ballina by the State.
The angling potential of our rivers as a source of leisure for our people and as a means of attracting angling tourists from Britain and mainland Europe has not received the recognition it deserved. resources available to me to develop and expand this very valuable resource by means of improving and enhancing stocks, continuing research, co-operating with relevant Government colleagues in monitoring and combating pollution in our rivers and making people more aware of the great potential of this amenity.
It is only fair to say that those benefiting from angling developments should make some effort in return to the further development of the resource. This is something I intend to address in the near future.
While recognising the importance of trout and coarse fish in the inland fisheries scene, no one will disagree that salmon has a special place in the hearts of the Irish people and has been a very emotive issue over the years. As members are aware a salmon review group in my Department have been examining the effectiveness of the salmon protection regulations. The group have received many submissions and met many deputations in the course of their review and have identified many complex problems. They will be presenting an interim report to me in the near future. While in no way wishing to pre-empt the recommendations of the group I wish to make three points.
First, I am satisfied that the greatest return to the State from salmon can be got from angling. Secondly, sea fishing for salmon plays an important role in some communities and thirdly, I am determined to do all in my power to eliminate illegal salmon fishing. Illegal fishing at sea causes severe damage to salmon stocks and cannot be allowed to continue. I have directed the regional managers in each of the regions to make a special effort this season to stamp out illegal salmon fishing which is damaging the future prospects of salmon stocks and putting the livelihoods of many people in jeopardy. There will be no let up in my drive to stamp out illegal salmon fishing and all illegal fishing.
The protection, development nad conservation of inland fisheries is carried out by the fisheries boards on my behalf under the Fisheries Act, 1980. The previous Government took a decision to abolish the Central Fisheries Board. I am presently examining the structures, functions and role of the central and regional fisheries boards in the context of Roinn na Mara. The future, nature, composition and functions of the boards will have to be carefully considered. I will welcome any views which the various interests concerned may wish to offer on these issues.
I have already met a number of fishery boards. It is my intention to see all the fishery boards in the course of the next few weeks to outline to them a number of key areas to which they should pay more attention and to impress on them the desirability of preparing a developmental programme for the whole inland fisheries area so that we can utilise to the maximum our inland fisheries resource. We can make Ireland the angling centre of Europe. I will be directing the boards to see to it that they undertake the necessary developmental programmes within their areas of responsibility.
A sum of £130,000 is provided as my Department's contribution to the Foyle Fisheries Commission. This is a statutory body set up under legislation enacted here and in Northern Ireland in 1952 with responsibility for the conservation, protection and improvement of fisheries in the Foyle area. It is a fine example of North-South co-operation carried on unobtrusively for many years. The deficit in the operation of the commission's activities are funded on a 50:50 basis by my Department and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.
The objectives of Roinn na Mara in relation to the Irish merchant shipping industry are two fold: to foster the development of a viable industry under the Irish flag which will serve our strategic and trading needs and to ensure that the industry operates in a safe maritime environment.
In framing a maritime policy which is now the responsibility of Roinn na Mara, for the years ahead, I see a need for steps to develop once more a deep sea Irish fleet, beginning in a modest way, perhaps, and expanding as trading opportunities are indentified and exploited. I have to say, however, that the extent to which existing assistance for the industry can be augmented is limited in view of the present constraints on the Exchequer and other competing needs on Exchequer funding.
I will introduce legislation shortly to give effect to the scheme of investment grants for the shipping industry. These will provide for the payment of 25 per cent grants towards the purchase of new and secondhand vessels by the private sector of the Irish shipping industry. A provision of £1.5 million was made for this scheme in the Estimate. In addition the industry will benefit from the application of the 10 per cent rate of corporation tax and the extension to it of the business expansion scheme as provided in the Finance Bill. These measures are necessary having regard to the depressed state of the industry, if shipping is to be revitalised and expanded.
Within the overall picture of continuing surplus capacity on a world scale, the EC share of world tonnage has steadily declined since the beginning of the decade. The competitiveness of the EC fleet vis-à-vis its foreign competitors has suffered badly. In the context of these difficulties, the adoption last December by the Council of Ministers of a package of maritime regulations is welcomed as an important and historic initiative.
It is to be regretted, however, that the Council of Ministers was not able to reach agreement on the liberalisation of internal shipping services, but I am confident that it will be able to resolve these difficulties and to move forward. Ireland's position is, of course, clear: we have a very liberal regime and pursue an "open ports" policy — there are no restrictions on vessels of any nationality trading to and from Irish ports.
On safety aspects, it will be a primary objective of Roinn na Mara that the highest internationally accepted standards will continue to apply on board Irish ships in relation to their construction, equipment and operation and in standards of training of those on board. We are a party to all of the principal safety conventions drawn up by the International Maritime Organisation, the specialised agency of the United Nations which is responsible for safety at sea matters. Ireland is also a party to the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, an agreement between 14 maritime nations of Western Europe. The parties to this agreement implement a rigorous programme of inspection of ships calling to ports to ensure adherence to the standards of internationally accepted conventions designed to achieve safety at sea and prevent oil pollution.
Notwithstanding the difficult economic circumstances, I look forward to further improvements in marine safety and search and rescue facilities in 1987. A sum of £250,000 has been earmarked for the further extension of the maritime VHF network around our coasts. Four remote control stations are already in operation linked to the manned stations at Malin Head and Valentia; two are in County Kerry and one each in Counties Donegal and Cork. In addition, my Department will be continuing their programme of re-equipping the Coast Life Saving Service, a voluntary body operated under the auspices of my Department at over 50 locations around the coast.
The 1987 Estimates mark the first Exchequer payment to the general lighthouse fund which finances the Commissioners of Irish Lights. This follows an agreement reached in 1985 between the UK and Irish authorities.
Under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, responsibility for the provision and maintenance of lights services around the coasts of Ireland and Britain is vested in three bodies, known as General Lighthouse Authorities: the Commissioners of Irish Lights who serve the coasts around Ireland, Trinity House who have responsibility for England and Wales and the Northern Lights Board, who are responsible for Scotland and the Isle of Man. While the facilities in the three areas are separately held and managed by the three lighthouse authorities, the whole system of lights around the coasts of Britain and Ireland is administered as a single financial unit. Expenditure is met from the central lighthouse fund which derives its income from the collection of lights dues in ports in Britain and Ireland. There is a substantial gap — £8 million in the year ended 31 March 1986 — between revenue from light dues in Ireland and expenditure by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. This arises because the elaborate system of lights demanded by the geographical situation of Ireland has not been matched by a corresponding flow of shipping traffic into Irish ports.
Following negotiations between the Irish and British authorities, it was agreed that in future a greater share of the costs incurred by the Commissioners of Irish Lights in the State will be met from sources in the State. Under the agreement, the lights dues collected at Irish ports will be supplemented as necessary by an Exchequer contribution so that total revenue from sources in the State will gradually increase from a level of 30 per cent in 1987 of CIL's expenditure in the State to reach 50 per cent by 1991. The Exchequer contribution in 1987 amounts to £1.287 million. This sum was, in fact, paid out of the Vote of the Department of Communications just prior to the establishment of Roinn na Mara.
Capital expenditure this year on the commercial harbours is expected to total about £9.5 million which is roughly the same as last year's outturn. The total amount of Exchequer assistance for those harbours, including voted and non-voted moneys, is £4.6 million, comprising £4.5 million grant and £0.1 million local loans fund financing. The sum of £1.468 million in the Vote for the Marine is in respect of the period 1 April to 31 December 1987. The balance is accounted for under the Vote for the Office of the Minister for Communications.
The new deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour which cost £10 million approximately is now complete and is capable of accommodating fully laden vessels of up to 60,000 dead weight tonnage. Grant assistance of £642,000 has been allocated this year to meet completion costs of the project. The berth is the final stage in the Cork harbour development scheme which began in 1977 and which has cost approximately £28 million. This new facility together with the planned free port at Ringaskiddy should greatly enhance the attractiveness of Cork Harbour as a location for new port related industry and will boost the efforts of Cork Harbour Commissioners and the IDA to generate development in the region.
In May 1985 the Government approved a rescue package for the Dublin Port and Docks Board which included payment of a grant of £3 million for each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987. The 1987 instalment included in this year's allocation for harbours has already been paid. One of the board's major assets, the Custom House Docks site, was recently transferred to the Custom House Dock Development Authority, the grants paid to the board being deducted from the agreed valuation of the site. The development of that site will undoubtedly contribute towards realising, the Government's plan for national economic recovery and, indeed, I am glad to note that there has already been an increase in traffic volume through the port, and that the board's trading performance is steadily improving.
Extensive storm damage was suffered by Arklow Harbour in August last and as a result a sum of £250,000 was provided for essential repair works there. Just under £150,000 of the grant was paid in 1986 and the remainder is being made available this year. Grant assistance of £57,000 is also being provided to Tralee & Fenit Pier & Harbour Commissioners to enable repairs to the pier at Fenit to continue this year.
As Minister with responsibility for commercial harbours my aim is to channel the limited State funds at my disposal into the most productive harbour investment having regard to the financial resources of the individual harbours and the need to avoid wasteful duplication of facilities in maintaining an efficient and cost effective ports infrastructure.
I am happy to say that Roinn na Mara have satisfactorily completed removal of the remaining recoverable oil in the Kowloon Bridge wreck, thus eliminating the threat of any further oil pollution to the west Cork area as a result of this unfortunate incident. On assuming responsibility for the marine functions of the former Department of Communications, I immediately established a special task force, to survey the wreck and remove the oil. The wreck had been very badly damaged during the winter. Irish divers inspected and drilled into any tanks that could contain oil and they identified oil in three tanks which was then removed by use of a specialised Dutch salvage vessel. The owners and insurers will be pursued as soon as practicable for recovery of the costs incurred. A substantial quantity of paint was also removed. This was tested by IIRS and I am happy to say that none of this paint contained TBT. I have arranged for a review of domestic legislation covering marine safety and pollution in the light of the Kowloon Bridge affair and any legislative changes considered necessary will be introduced as soon as possible.
Roinn na Mara have, as one of their objectives, the development of a rational policy for national port development. There has been a feeling for a long time on both sides of this House that the best use is not being made of our harbours and port facilities. The Shannon estuary is one area where I believe we have failed to exploit the opportunities.
The other matter we regard as important is that of overall marine research. Our policy document outlined the need for the establishment of an institute for marine resources and fisheries research which would identify areas of research which have not been developed to date.
With regard to the sea and sea bed resources the technologies related to their exploitation——
