asked the Minister for the Marine the amount of the 1987 mackerel quota which is left; and the number of mackerel licences which exist.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mackerel Quotas and Licences.
19.
The amount of the mackerel quota available to Irish fishermen on Friday last was 1,168 tonnes. This represents the balance outstanding from the 1987 quota of 79,350 tonnes and the additional 7,000 tonnes secured by way of quota exchanges with other member states. Discussions are currently ongoing with a number of other member states with a view to possibly securing further amounts but this will depend on the ability of these member states to make further amounts available and on our being in a position to offer in exchange the species which they desire.
I had given notice that I would be raising this matter specifically at a Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting which had been arranged for today. Unfortunately the Council meeting has been postponed but I have asked the President of the Council to reschedule the Council as soon as possible.
Will the Minister guarantee that any quota swaps will not take place at the expense of our smaller boats around the coast from Sligo, Duncannon, Kilmore Quay and all the way back up to Clogherhead?
The Deputy can be assured that it will not affect boats around Sligo, down the west coast, across the south or up the east coast, or, may I add, Donegal.
What quota does the Minister intend to swap and what are the countries with whom he is negotiating for a swap at present? Can he confirm that, as there is less than 1,000 tonnes of this year's quota left, his advice to the Donegal trawlermen is that if they all leave the port together with the knowledge that there is, say, 1,000 tonnes left and they all arrive back with about 3,500 tonnes between them, it will be in order and that this might be a way of securing the small amount of quota that is left.
I have already advised the Deputy in this House that she should be very careful when she obtains information from a particular source or sources. I kindly advise the Deputy today again that she should not accept information from those sources. On the first occasion on which I answered questions in the House, I advised the Deputy that we would do all in our power in this matter, the situation being that her Government had at the time secured a quota of some 79,000 tonnes. If I come back with anything less than a reasonable increase on that quota, I shall hang my head in shame but I have no intention of securing less than a reasonable increase. The last Government allowed indiscriminate fishing over a six week period, which was in no way advantageous to the producer, processor or factory worker, and they closed the season in the middle of February. That Government took political advantage of that time. They left the incoming Government with a 7,000 tonnes quota for the end of the season. We secured an additional 7,000 tonnes at the expense of other types of fish, but certainly not at the expense of the fishermen. We have a total quota of 14,000 tonnes and a balance of 1,168 tonnes and if the Deputy's friends were factual with her they would tell her how pleased they are with our operation.
In addition, we set a precedent in having this matter put on the agenda of a meeting which was cancelled today, but my Minister and I have asked that that meeting be rescheduled at the earliest possible date. We are at a very sensitive stage of negotiation. This evening I shall again be looking after the best interests of our fishermen and, it is hoped, shall secure an additional quota which will bring us nearer to the end of the year.
I accept that the Minister of State will have the best interests of the Donegal trawlermen at heart.
May I again have some co-operation?
Finally, would the Minister ensure that Ireland will get a minimum of a 125,000 tonnes quota in 1988 as it has been agreed that the EC quota be increased to 500,000 tonnes? Pro rata, we should get 125,000 tonnes. Can the Minister tell the House this afternoon that that will be the case?
I need co-operation to conclude the priority questions.
If the Deputy had been as interested in the fishermen last year when Minister of State and had impressed upon the then Minister, whether it was Deputy Kavanagh or Deputy O'Toole, when these Ministers were happy to accept a quota of 79,000 tonnes, she would have been against that quota and against indiscriminate fishing and the absolute lack of management of fish. I can assure the Deputy that we shall do our utmost to get an adequate quota for fishermen this year.
Pro rata?
Any quota can only be useful if managed properly. If the previous Administration had taken a leaf from our book in the way that we have handled and managed the stocks since coming into power on 10 March of this year, we would not have the present difficulties.
How much will Ireland get of the 500,000 tonnes? Will we get our share?
Next question, please.