Proinsias De Rossa
Question:59 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his response to the EU Green Paper on the review of the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12788/01]
Other Questions. - Common Fisheries Policy.
This question is similar to a previous one. The European Commission's Green Paper on the CFP was published in March and was formally presented to the Fisheries Council on 25 April. I welcome the Commission's intention to conduct real dialogue. I do not underestimate the challenges faced by the Irish fishing industry in securing the best outcome in the CFP review. Other member states have their own agendas, access rights and quotas being two in particular. While we will actively defend and seek to maximise the Irish position in that context, we will work to shape and influence the radical overhaul of the CFP, something which clearly needs to be done.
What has happened since that meeting on 25 April and the general agreement by the IFO and other interests? Will the Minister indicate when the committee chaired by Mr. Pádraig Whyte will report? What are his terms of reference vis-à-vis the Common Fisheries Policy?
The committee chaired by Mr. Pádraig Whyte reported about four or five months ago and that report was submitted to the European Commission. I had a useful briefing with Commissioner Fischler and his officials in Brussels several months ago. Much of what was in that document was reflected in the Green Paper produced by the Commission.
A useful meeting took place last Friday in Brussels between Mr. Pádraig Whyte and members of his committee and Commissioner Fischler and his officials. Many of the proposals, especially concerning conservation, inshore fishing and the socio-economic impact of the CFP on Ireland, were discussed. From the report of the meeting I received from Pádraig Whyte, it appears they made a good impression on Commissioner Fischler.
There are one or two areas which are not included in the Green Paper, largely the questions of safety, processing and added value, which I indicated at the recent Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels should receive more significance in the Green Paper.
I am pleased to hear the Minister speaking about the importance of pro cessing and added value. The survival of our fishing communities can be assured only through those activities. Has the Minister spoken to other EU fisheries ministers and are many of them of a like mind with him? What support does the Minister expect to receive from other member states when the real negotiations begin?
The Commission's original intention was to reduce the size of the fishing fleet? It appears from the report of the Minster's meeting that this intention has changed. What has happened since then?
It is the Commission's priority to reduce engine capacity, MAGP. This has been strongly resisted by Ireland and every other country. However, we must face the inevitability of reductions in engine capacity. This is the subject of an ongoing debate.
The success of the December Council lay in the fact that for the first time technical conservation measures, as opposed to the old tax and quota system, were to the forefront of EU policies, We are now seeing those measures being implemented by way of the hake and cod recovery programmes and the closure of other areas. The very problems which the Deputy identified in his first question are now being dealt with. These are necessary conservation measures but they are hurtful. If we are to grow stock we must conserve. It is in our interest to have this policy pursued in Europe and for the first time other countries are now supporting it. Some countries have a greater interest in using quotas and total allowable catches as their method of management because they have huge quotas compared with ours. There is a divergence of approach because of a difference between our interests and those of France, for example. We face a tough battle but we are convinced that the only way forward lies in proper technical conservation allowing juvenile fish to escape, closing spawning areas and allowing stock to recover and be managed in a proper fashion. The scientific evidence supports this approach.