Vol. 476 No. 5
281 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for the Marine the progress, if any, which has been made at the European Commission to secure safety tonnage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7531/97]
Ireland has been to the forefront in seeking to ensure that safety improvements to fishing vessels which do not increase the fishing effort of the vessels concerned should be excluded from capacity calculations for the purposes of the Fourth Multi Annual Guidance Programme for the EU fishing fleet. The principle was included in the Irish Presidency compromise text on MAGP IV which is the basis on which negotiations are proceeding with a view to a Council decision before the end of April.
