Vol. 429 No. 3
4 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine the reason the big decrease in fish producer prices is not matched by a corresponding fall in prices to the consumer; his views on whether the unlimited imports of fish from third country origin into the EC markets is totally responsible for the collapse of fish producer prices within the Community; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to rectify this situation to the advantage of the Irish fishing industry.
56 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for the Marine the measures, if any, he intends to introduce to deal with the impact of fish imports from non-EC countries on fish prices at port level throughout the Community.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 4 and 56 together.
The major decrease in prices for whitefish on European markets is due to many factors, including imports of cheap cod and haddock from third countries; the international recessionary situation which has reduced the demand for prime whitefish; the instability in the currency market which has led to large differentials in price between EC member states and the unseasonably good weather early in the year which, coupled with an increase in the total allowable catch of a number of whitefish species, resulted in increased landings.
The difficulties on the whitefish market have been discussed on a number of occasions at European Community level. At the end of February, in response to pressure from a number of member states, including Ireland, the Community invoked a system of minimum prices at point-of-entry in respect of monk, hake, cod, haddock, saithe and Alaska pollack. This system will remain in force until the end of June.
The disruption to the market was discussed at length at the 18 March meeting of the Council of Fisheries' Ministers in Brussels at which the Minister of State, Mr. Gerry O'Sullivan, attended. The council decided on a range of actions, including: member states were requested to enhance national controls on minimum prices; the Commission was instructed to consider extending the minimum prices regime to include other species; member states are to accelerate the provision of data on prices, in particular import prices, to the Commission; the Commission is to bring forward proposals for better control of direct landings from third countries in Community ports, and the Commission is to establish contact with the third countries involved to control and stabilise markets.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that there are signs that, in Ireland at least, prices have now begun to stabilise.
As regards prices in the shops, there are indications that there has been some fall in prices recently: the consumer price index shows a fall of more than 9 per cent in the price of fresh fish generally since August 1992, and a 7 per cent fall in prices since last November. This implies that the full benefit of the major fall in producer prices may not have been passed on immediately to the consumer. This would not be unusual in the short term pending stabilisation of market trends.
Should fish prices remain low and should it become clear that the benefits of these low prices are not being adequately passed on to the consumer, I will, of course, be in touch with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, with a view to taking whatever steps are necessary to rectify the situation.
It appears the Minister is not aú fait with the situation. It is evident from his reply that he is giving us details of the meeting attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Gerry O'Sullivan in Brussels on 18 March 1993. It is a case of too little too late. The fishing industry is in a state of collapse and has come almost to a standstill.
I have to dissuade the Deputy from making a speech. It is not in order now.
I am not making a speech, a Cheann Comhairle, I am trying to elicit information from the Minister. Will the Minister insist the EC imposes stringent quotas on imports from third countries because such imports have a serious impact on fish prices and on our fishing industry? Will the Minister insist also that the EC carry out stringent inspections of fishery plants in third countries before their product is allowed into the Community?
Let us not forget the questions we are dealing with and the time factor involved.
I agree with the trend of the Deputy's questions. However I do not necessarily agree that the fishing industry is in a state of collapse. The organisations in control of the fishing industry are pretty much in control of the situation. They are led by men who understand the fishing industry. In the circumstances the Deputy can be assured that I will keep the point he made on quotas very much to the forefront at the June meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers. The quotas under the Common Fisheries Policy which are of concern to me were also of concern to my predecessor. The Deputy's points are reasonable although I do not necessarily agree with everything he said. I have taken note of them.
When the Minister next attends a meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers will he insist on the imposition of strict hygiene inspections on plants in third countries?
The third countries should not be doing what they are doing. I suggest they are acting illegally under the laws of the European Community. As to the Deputy's suggestion that hygiene inspections be carried out in the plants from which fish is imported, I am not sure if that is practical because we would be supporting countries that are acting illegally. It is the EC's strong view that third countries should not be dumping their produce and flooding the market with it.
