Vol. 545 No. 1
101 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the apparently discriminatory way in which fishermen are being treated at present (details supplied); if he will investigate the anomaly in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29525/01]
Member states are legally obliged under the CFP to put in place effective measures to manage and respect their respective fish quota entitlements. All member states have their own national systems for quota management which will involve national decisions on restrictions and/or closures of fisheries for their fishermen dependant on their utilisation of quota entitlements. Ireland is responsible for managing and monitoring the take up by Irish fishermen of national quota.
In relation to the specific instances outlined by the Deputy the position is that the Irish cod quota off the south and west coast has been exhausted and the fishery is therefore closed. The haddock fishery in the same area was recently closed for two weeks but following successful negotiation of quota swop of haddock with France it has been possible to re-open that fishery.
