asked the Minister for Fisheries the increased herring quota allowed to Dutch fishermen off the Galway and Mayo coast for this year; and if he is satisfied with the allocation to Irish fishermen.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Herring Quotas.
38.
The EEC Commission has proposed that the Netherlands quota for herring in the area off the Galway and Mayo coast should be 4,000 tons in 1978 as against 8,300 tons in 1977.
I am satisfied with the allocation of 10,000 tons proposed for Ireland in the same area.
I was under the impression that the Dutch had got an increased quota. They were originally allocated 10,000 tons and that was revised to 14,000 tons.
The Deputy's information is incorrect. The proposed 1978 allocation of 10,000 tons for Ireland compares with a quota of 4,600 tons for last year.
That was for five months.
No. Our tonnage allocation has more than doubled for 1978 as against 1977. To give exact figures—4,600 tons in 1977 and 10,000 tons in 1978. As far as Dutch tonnage is concerned in the same area, there has been a reduction to 4,000 tons in 1978 as against 8,300 in 1977. Their tonnage is halved and ours is doubled. That is what I mean by negotiation. The total percentage increase in the quotas allotted to Ireland is of the order of 26 per cent, whereas in the case of most of our partners it is the same or reduced. I will make a fuller statement on that aspect, species by species, within the next few days.
Would the Minister say how he intends to see that there is surveillance of these quotas? How does he intend to administer these quotas in the area off the west of Ireland? In the past the Minister has said that quotas could not be applied. He said that quotas as a method of conservation did not work. How are quotas now to be applied and what surveillance will take place to see that the Dutch fleet stay inside the quota?
We are talking about our fishing plans. It is an entirely new concept. These quotas will be fitted into fishing plans for the present year. I have just had a talk with the chairman of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation and he fully appreciates the position. Quotas are only part of the mechanism. There will be licensing provisions as well whereby X number of boats from X countries will fish X species of fish in accordance with a certain size of boat and certain engine power. We are talking about a limitation or reduction of catch on the part of these countries and quotas are only part of the mechanism. I hope that, through the consultation I mentioned in reply to an earlier question, we can, with the various interested organisations and in consultation with our partners, work out a system which will contain all the elements of a reserved zone for Irish fishermen within the umbrella of fishing plans.
What extra surveillance will take place to ensure that these quotas are kept? It is useless for the Minister to say that they will be kept if there is not to be extra surveillance.
There will be a further statement on this, but I might mention to the House that one of the positive bonuses of our recent talks has been agreement by the Commission and the member countries to give Ireland 75 per cent of the cost of surveillance. In reality, apart from a small amount for Denmark, we are the only country receiving substantial amounts for controlling and surveillance operations. The specific sum of £30 million has been written into the arrangement— frozen at the moment because of the British refusal to agree—out of a total patrolling cost of £40 million which the Department of Defence submitted to the Commission. This £30 million is to be expended by us over the next five years once the common fisheries policy gets off the ground. The boats will be built in Ireland and manned by Irish-men and this will provide a very substantial outlet for employment and development.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next sitting day of the Dáil.