asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will outline in detail the discussions he had, since the Summer Recess, with his EEC partners regarding matters affecting Irish interests; the extent of agreement reached in respect of a common fisheries regime covering conservation, protection and quotas; and the provisions in relation to the compensation for the restriction of herring fishing in the Celtic Sea, grants for boat-building, harbour development, fish processing and measures directed towards the harmonisation of legal penalties for illegal fishing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Fishery Discussions.
5.
I presume the Deputy is referring to discussions at Councils of Fisheries Ministers. Two such councils took place since the Dáil went into recess, on 24-25 July and on 25 September. No agreement was reached at these discussions on conservation policies and quota allocations because of UK reserves.
Measures agreed at these councils include a Community grant of £30 million to Ireland towards the cost of fishery protection, an interim scheme of grants for fishing boats and fish-farming and a regulation restricting Spanish fishing in our waters to an area nowhere coming within 50 miles outside baselines. There was no discussion on the other points mentioned by the Deputy.
What are the major issues which now divide the members of the Community with regard to a uniform policy, and in particular the issues which divide himself and his British colleague?
That is a far-reaching supplementary.
It is a far-reaching question.
The only major problem with regard to the fishery negotiations in the European Community is that there is a general election pending in Britain.
Would the Minister agree that the attainment of a 50-mile exclusive zone for Ireland would solve many of our problems? Was that matter discussed at his talks during the summer recess?
The secretary of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation and I know the realistic situation in regard to the achievement of limits and we agree. As regards the successful conclusion of fishery talks, what I said a few minutes ago is apposite. These fishery talks have been held up by reason of the recalcitrance of the British Government in coming to an agreement with the other eight members of the Community and that issue is bound up with the pending British general election.
Is it not a fact that the British Minister is far more consistent in his endeavours to secure justice for the British fleet than our Minister is for the Irish fleet?
This question refers to restrictions on herring fishing in the Celtic Sea. The Minister in his reply did not refer to that part of the question.
That is a matter between the British Government and the Community. I want to emphasise another point which was raised by Deputy Treacy and Deputy Deasy. I am sure Deputy FitzGerald will agree with me on this. The fact is that the more we distance ourselves from the British in this respect the better. I got a guarantee and commitment that anything the British get we will get. On top of that we have the guarantees embodied in the Hague Declaration, of which Deputy FitzGerald is aware. We have the preferential quotas arising out of that, and we have got extra bonuses in relation to fishery protection costs and in respect of direct grants towards the purchase of vessels. Anything the British may obtain we will get also. I cannot think of a better arrangement than that. If anybody can come up with one here I will be glad to hear of it.
The Minister has not answered the question. The question refers to restrictions on herring fishing in the Celtic Sea. Is the Minister prepared to ensure that the Dutch do not catch more than the 5 per cent by-catch allowed?
I think the Deputy's brother is in the Naval Service, but that is nothing personal. The fact of the matter is that the Navy have been very stringent in their control and operations in regard to the herring fishing area in particular. Indeed, I went to the extent of arranging that the secretary of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation, Mr. Byrne, would go along with a naval vessel that apprehended Dutch boats in the past few months. After full investigation of the situation it was found that the boats had less than the 5 per cent by-catch allowable. The fact of the matter is that the Naval Service are prosecuting. Where prosecutions are warranted, they are apprehending. In regard to all cases concerning the Dutch which the deputy has raised, they have been found to have been catching well within their by-catch limit.
Is the Minister aware that there has been a public admission by the Dutch that they are catching 15 per cent by-catch?
Who made that allegation?
That was a report in The Irish Press in July.
I would like to have it.
The Minister does not agree with that?