A draft motion has been circulated to members in respect of EU fish quotas for 2009.
I move:
That the Joint Committee on European affairs:
— recognises the vital importance of the fishing industry to the coastal communities in Ireland;
— notes the importance of the current negotiations at the EU Council on Agriculture and Fisheries on national fish quotas for 2009 to the fishing industry and the economy of Irish coastal communities;
— shares the concerns of the Irish fishing industry and the Government as to the clarity, rationale and appropriateness of some of the proposed measures contained in the draft EU regulation setting up a quarter of the 2009;
— calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at today's Council meeting to protect and promote the interests of the Irish fishing industry and Irish coastal communities in securing the best possible deal for Ireland.