Vol. 530 No. 2
30 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress he has made in negotiating a new fisheries policy with the European Union; the number of meetings he has had with the European Union Fisheries Commissioner on the matter; and the progress to date in this regard. [2959/01]
The review of the Common Fisheries Policy takes place in 2002. The Commission will shortly publish a Green Paper on fisheries policy which will be comprehensively debated in the coming months. I have highlighted to Commissioner Fischler in my discussions with him to date the need for radical thinking in relation to conservational fleet management, enforcement, regionalisation and greater involvement of the fishing industry in decision-making, and recognition of the socio-economic importance of coastal inshore fisheries. I expect the Commission's Green Paper to reflect in no small degree those important themes. Ireland's negotiating position up to and during the review will continue to be informed by the work of the national CFP strategy review group, and I will work to maximise the position of the Irish fishing industry in the forthcoming debate.
