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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 7

Written Questions. - Foreign Fishing Access.

Ivor Callely

Question:

38 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine the number of countries that have access to fish in Irish waters in 1995; the likely changes in each of the years 1996 and 1997; the effect, if any, this may have on the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17207/95]

The United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany have fishing rights in Ireland's fishery zone for certain species and subject to quota entitlements. Under the EU-Norway fisheries agreement for 1995 Norwegian vessels have some limited access for certain species in Irish waters.

Spain and Portugal have had restricted access to waters in the Irish fishery zone under the 1985 Iberian Act of Accession. Under the agreement at the December 1994 Fisheries Council on the full integration of Spain and Portugal into the common fisheries policy, 40 named Spanish vessels out of the 93 vessels which currently can be present at any one time in Irish waters will be allowed access into certain areas of the Irish Box. There will be no increase in the overal numbers of Spanish vessels in the Irish fishery zone, nor will they have increased fishing opportunities or quota entitlements.

Access in the 200 mile zone is qualified in all cases by the availability of quotas in specific fishery areas. The absence of quotas in respect of certain member states debars them from fishing within the 200 mile zone for the species concerned.
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