asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the fishermen along the east coast are very perturbed over the recent trade agreement with Iceland which provides for the importation of fish into this country and whether he can give an assurance that the agreement will not have detrimental effects on the fishing industry here.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Iceland Trade Agreement.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, in relation to the trade agreement concluded on 3rd December between Ireland and Iceland (a) the type of fish; (b) the quantities. (c) the value of fish to be imported and whether he has satisfied himself that such additional imports will not seriously injure the fishing industry here by aggravating the difficulty experienced by our fishermen in disposing of their catches at economic prices.
I propose with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.
Ireland has not undertaken in this trade agreement to import fish from Iceland. The agreement provides that each country shall accord all reasonable facilities for the admission of the products of the other, but any imports from Iceland would be subject to the existing restrictions which are not in any way altered by the agreement.
Is the Minister aware that we have a fishing industry here and that the fishermen of this country are depending on him as Minister to develop it? It seems rather extraordinary that the Minister's method of developing it is by importing more fish, rather than by developing our own industry and, as a result of this agreement——
Has the Deputy a supplementary question?
Furthermore, is the Minister going to continue this policy as far as fish is concerned, as he has continued the policy of importing other food?
The Minister's intention is to maintain the domestic market for fish——
Produce it at home.
——exclusively for the inshore fishermen of this country, who, I am happy to think, are now enjoying, and will continue to enjoy, a greater measure of prosperity than they have known in the last 20 years.
It is stated clearly in the agreement that the principal export of Iceland is fish.
It is not stated that the principal imports of Ireland are fish.
We are to conclude an agreement with a country whose principal export is fish. We take it that we will be importing fish.
The Deputy takes a great deal on faith.