asked the Minister for the Marine if, in view of the reduced EC quotas for fish, he will indicate the steps, if any, which are being taken to protect jobs in the fishing industry, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Quotas.
8.
I do not accept that the quotas achieved for Irish fishermen for 1988 are at a reduced level, or will have any adverse effects on employment in the fishing industry. Indeed, in cash terms, increases of some £7 million over and above the quotas originally proposed by the Commission were negotiated at last December's Council and this will have a major beneficial impact.
How could the Minister have the gall to come in here today and say that the reduced quotas will not affect employment? Only last week in Rossaveal, County Galway, at one of the largest fish processing plants, there was a loss of 240 jobs. In view of the effect the ban will have on employment in the industry, would he now seek to have the ban lifted?
To clarify the position, I said I did not accept that the quotas achieved for Irish fishermen are at a reduced level. I went on to say that the quotas for this year will have no serious adverse effect. Furthermore, I should make very clear to Deputy Sherlock that it was not the question of reduced quotas which resulted in the loss of these jobs in Rossaveal last week. I do not want to go into that case in detail because there are further questions on the matter.
If Deputy Sherlock has been advised that the ban on fishing in the Celtic Sea has resulted in this closure, that is not true. The figures for the Celtic Sea, which I do not have with me at present, have been in the region of 11,000 odd tonnes. In the region of 4,000 tonnes would have been caught at the moment. We agreed with both the processors and the producers of the industry that there would be landings of some 6,000 tonnes. This could have continued if the quality of the fish had been as we believe it should have been and we sought scientific advice. I would not like to preside, with my Minister, over a Department that would allow a reversion to the situation in which we found ourselves some years ago when it was necessary to close the fishery for some five years. The closure was on scientific advice. I can go into that matter in greater detail when we are dealing with questions concerning the Celtic Sea.
In view of the fact that the Minister's party promised an increase in quotas to the fishing industry, in their manifesto at almost this time last year during their general election campaign, does he now accept that the Government have not been able to deliver on this promise?
A complete failure. Total capitulation.
They promised us a red herring last year.
They were codding us.
If the House wants it, I shall certainly give all the figures. They may be of interest to Deputies.
It is not a question of figures. The Government made a promise and did not keep it.
Taking mackerel, the quota for 1987 was 79,350 tonnes. Having come into office in March when 72,000 tonnes of that quota had been caught and landed indiscriminately, with prices at a minimum, the remaining quota being only 7,000 tonnes, the Minister and I secured a further 10,000 tonnes valued at about £3 million. That ensured that the fishing could continue into December of last year.
The 1988 quotas.
The proposal from the Commission for 1988 was 70,820 tons. We secured 79,350, the status quo.
The same as 1987.
The matter does not stop there. Let the Deputy just hold her breath. We did what was never done in the past since the introduction of the Common Fisheries Policy; we ensured that there would be a review of the mackerel quota in the middle of this year because of the surveys carried out by the industry in conjuction with the Department — indeed, paid for by the industry. All that information was not available to ISIS, but the working groups within the Commission are working on this whole matter at the moment and I feel confident, because of the scientific advice which we are making available to the Commission, that we shall meet with success there. With regard to hake, the 1987 quota was 1,990 tonnes and we received a quota of 2,070. For monkfish, the quota last year was 3,060 tonnes and is now 3,370. For megrim last year we had 2,960 tonnes and got 3,260. For herrings, last year's quota was 38,920 tonnes and we now have a quota of 33,000 tonnes.
I shall explain that with reference to the Celtic Sea questions. We had done something for which there was no precedent. Because of the closure of the three areas, Baginbun and two other areas in the Celtic Sea, we have ensured the other 5,000 tonnes. On white pollock, we have gone from 910 tonnes to 1,230 tonnes. For the quota of cod we have gone from 11,660 to 11,520 tonnes. On haddock, the 1987 quota was 3,850 tonnes and it is now 4,090; saithe from 3,760 to 4,790; whiting, 17,240 tonnes— there is a status quo in this case and in fact we do not catch all of our whiting quota; plaice, 3,310 to 3,410; sole, 680 to 640 and nephrops, 9,315——
On a point of order, this question relates——
Deputy, it is most discourteous to rise in that fashion when the Minister is replying to your question.
I am rising——
Resume your seat.
I am rising on a point of order.
The Deputy might wait until the Minister has concluded if he wishes to raise a point of order. I will not tolerate that——
I am trying to be helpful.
I will not tolerate that kind of behaviour. The Deputy will resume his seat.
The Minister's reply has nothing to do with my question.
It is a question of quotas and reduced quotas. Those are all the quota species. The position might not be as satisfactory as we would like it to be but the facts are that in the majority of cases there has been an increase in the quota.
The Minister said that——
Question No. 9, please. Deputy Michael Begley.
They are the quotas.
The next question has been called.
The commercial species are all down and, therefore, you have failed to deliver.
I have called the next question.