I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 24, 30, 32 and 73 together.
By way of background I should explain that EU fisheries management, under the Common Fisheries Policy rules established in 1983, is essentially based on the concept of a total allowable catch for each stock of species in a given area.
Stock levels are assessed each year by EU and international fisheries biologists. On the basis of this scientific advice, the Commission draws up annual proposals for TACs for the various stocks. The final decision on the level of catches that can be made for the following year is taken by the Fisheries Council each December.
TACs are divided into national quotas according to the allocation keys agreed in 1983 and which guarantees a constant share for each member state in proportion to its relative historic catches prior to introduction of the quota system. This is the so-called principle of "relative stability" which is the hallmark of the Common Fisheries Policy. In addition, Ireland has special entitlements under the Hague Prefernce which can be invoked to increase Ireland's share in certain circumstances.
I do not need to remind Deputies that it is the long-standing contention, one which I fully endorse, that the overall share of fish stocks allocated under quota to Ireland falls short of a fair and reasonable level and fails to recognise the unique circumstances of the Irish fishing sector and the socio-economic imperative to address its historic underdevelopment. Successive Governments have pressed the case for increases in those allocations, most recently in the 1992 mid-term review of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Irish case remains on the table, is reaffirmed in the programme for Government and I will be again reiterating it at the forthcoming Council meeting. Deputies will also be aware, however, that any upward revision of the Irish quotas would mean reductions for other member states, especially the UK and France, which have major shares of the stocks in western waters. Such a change would require the support of a qualified majority of member states. At present, we have no support among other member states but we will continue to press the case strongly at all levels.
In the meantime, we continue to work closely with the fishing industry and fishing organisations in seeking to increase Ireland's fishing opportunities in the context of the annual round of decisions on total allowable catches. That consultation process is now under way in the build-up to next month's Council meeting which will determine the TACs for 1996. My overall objective in these difficult and tough negotiations will be to maximise the fishing possibilities for Ireland, while ensuring that conservation objectives are met through the setting of sustainable TACs geared to managing and protecting the long-term viability of stocks. Balancing the socio-economic aspect with the biological and other aspects of fisheries management is the big challenge for Ireland no less than for any other country.
The emerging assessment and advice from the scientists this year is that they are gravely concerned about the state of stocks. Big cuts in the TACs of most stocks are recommended yet again this year to let stocks build back up or even to prevent collapse. The scientific advice is currently being evaluated by the Commission as well as ourselves, the fishing industry and other member states. The Commission will unveil its own proposals based on this advice within the next ten days and intensive negotiations will get under way at EU level in early December. As I said, we will be working hand in glove with the industry in developing and negotiating Ireland's strategic position on every aspect of these proposals. This close liaison with the industry will go on up to and during the Council on 21 December.
The context within which we will work to maximise Irish fishing possibilities next year is enormously difficult. The reality is that there is an overall decline in the size of many fish stocks on which Irish fisheries depend. Council will have to seek to strike the right balance between biological and economic imperatives. Achieving that balance is anything but easy and there are tough decisions to be faced if exploitation rates are to be managed in a way which secures the future of stocks while allowing a viable level of fishing.