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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Fish Prices.

Seán Barrett

Question:

20 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals, if any, he has made to the EU fisheries council to ensure that trade liberalising factors such as the GATT agreement will not depress prices paid to Irish fishermen for their catch.

As the Deputy will be aware, there has been considerable disruption on Community markets for more than a year now. During that time, Ireland has consistently pushed for strong measures to tackle the problems arising.

In particular, I have pushed strongly for the introduction and retention of minimum import prices for as long as their need is demonstrated. I have also supported strongly the adoption of regulations governing the activities of third country vessels which land and directly market their catches at Community ports. These regulations, which provide for minimum standards in relation to health, hygiene and price control, were adopted by the Council at its meeting on 12 April last.

Other measures which I have suggested include the operation of Community preference in respect of imports, the satisfactory operation of reporting rules, financial assistance for the promotion of the species most affected by the crisis in the market and the reintroduction of the export refund mechanism.

The Commission is in the process of preparing a full analysis and report on the situation, outlining the market problems involved, their causes and possible solutions. Ireland has made a full input into this process and continues to push for action to ensure the maximum possible stability in prices for Irish fish.

On the question of the Community preference, is the Minister confident that that type of proposal will be allowed under the terms of the GATT regime which, obviously, would entail a lengthy debate? Does the Minister hope to be able to push through some type of Community preference proposals notwithstanding the GATT Agreement? Second, should it not prove possible to make reasonable progress in that regard will we reach a position in which there will be dumping of fish on European Union markets, totally below prevailing market prices from outside the European Union? Can we do anything to ensure that we could respond to the inordinate pressure that would place on the industry at EU level — I suppose we must think of our fishermen first — to that grave threat which could put many people in the fisheries industry out of business?

I agree with Deputy Bradford. I have been attempting, with the awakening support of other European colleagues, to maintain minimum prices. As the Deputy will be aware, I achieved some success in this regard with the co-operation of Commissioner Palleo Krassis in the not too distant past. I intend to pursue that particular path. The Deputy is correct, there has been a serious erosion of the efforts to maintain price levels within the Community by virtue of the intrusion of third countries that have been, as the Deputy said, dumping fish into the Community. We will continue to press for the maintenance of minimum prices on the one hand and Community preferences on the other. A weak effort has been made in regard to Community preferences and I am not certain they are achievable in the long run.

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