I want to allay the Deputy's concerns about the status of the Irish Box in the EU fisheries policy and under EU law. Maintenance and recognition of the Irish Box is enshrined in Community legislation. The existing arrangements which apply to the area are not up for renegotiation or for reopening under the CFP review in 2002. Therefore, they are ringfenced and safeguarded.
Political and legal recognition of the sensitive nature of the Irish Box was negotiated successfully by Ireland in the 1994 Council agreement on the integration of Spain and Portugal into the CFP. While it did not exist previously, that was negotiated and ringfenced at that time. This agreement was given legal effect in Council Regulation 685 of 1995. The arrangements totally exclude Spanish vessels from certain parts of the box — that is, the Irish Sea — and allow access to 40 named Spanish vessels into other parts of the box based on existing effort levels. All fishing vessels over 15 metres have been obliged since 1 January 1996 to report to Ireland on entering and exiting the box. The entry/exit reporting regime will be critically expanded and enhanced by the introduction of real time catch reporting from 1 July next. Under existing arrangements, they have to report when they enter and exit. From 1 July next they must also report their catch on entry and on exiting. That will greatly facilitate subsequent inspections. The Irish Box, therefore, is a component both politically and legally of EU fisheries policy.
There are three specific legal provisions in the 1992 Common Fisheries Policy Regulation which must be decided upon by the Council before the end of 2002: first, access to waters within the 12 mile limit; second, the rules applying to the Shetland Box; and, third, arrangements for access to the North Sea for vessels from Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Finland. The first of these issues is obviously of direct concern to Ireland. In the absence of an explicit Council decision, the rule restricting access to waters within the 12 mile limit will disappear. However, no member state will want to concede such access and the Commission has already publicly stated that it does not see any appetite for change to the status quo on this issue. We will certainly wish to secure embodiment in the CFP regulation of the six and 12 mile limits.
There are of course many aspects of the CFP which need improvement, in some cases radical improvement. Every opportunity will continue to be taken to advance Ireland's case for the equitable share of the EU fish quota. Fisheries management, regulation enforcement and marketing aspects also require review and enhancement, some of which is under way already. The continuing difficulties with flagships point to the need to look at how the review might be used to address the inconsistency underlying the quota regime which allows flagships to benefit from national quotas.
While the CFP review is four and a half years away, I consider it essential to begin the strategic process of preparing the national position now. I will be establishing shortly a national CFP strategy group involving all key players, including the industry. The group will consult, develop and advise on national objectives and strategies. I want to bring together and use to best effect all relevant expertise to inform our national negotiating position in the run up to the review.
