Vol. 313 No. 8
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the implications for our fishing industry, if as reported in the press, he intends allowing a major fishing effort by Norway within our 200-mile limit; and if these proposals have been discussed with the fishery interests and organisations in this country, and also at EEC level.
8.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will confirm that negotiations are taking place with the Norwegian Government to exchange Irish fish stocks for Norwegian oil and to make a statement on the matter.
9.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if discussions have taken place with Norwegian fishery interests relative to providing special facilities for Norwegians to fish in Irish waters.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together.
Discussions have not taken place with the Norwegian fishery interests about the possibility of providing special facilities for Norwegians to fish in Irish waters. Contacts have, however, been established with the Norwegian authorities concerning an application by an Irish company for an interest in a petroleum exploration licence in the Norwegian offshore area. During the course of this contact, which involved the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, various areas of co-operation between Irish and Norwegian interests were suggested. The possibility of an acceptable fishery project being formulated has been mooted, but at this stage I cannot say whether anything definite is likely to emerge.
The Irish Fishermen's Organisation have been informed of the position and will be kept informed of developments. The necessity for consultation with the EEC has not so far arisen, nor is it likely to arise.
Was the newspaper account substantially correct in stating that the Irish Government were in contact with the Norwegians with a view to acquiring oil in return for giving the Norwegian fishermen preferential treatment in our waters?
The Deputy is half right and half wrong. Of course, the Irish Government are interested in getting a stake in Norwegian oil. That makes sense in regard to the strategic aspect. There is not yet a proposal in regard to a fishery matter related to that.
Is the Minister saying there is not a proposal to give the Norwegians, in return for the oil concession, preferential rights to fish in Irish waters?
There is no question of preferential rights to fish in Irish waters. We are members of the EEC and we must observe Community rules in dealing with Norwegian fishing interests.
If "preferential rights" is the incorrect term, what is the correct term?
At present there is nothing but a suggestion that this might be an idea if it were discussed further. No proposal has emanated from the Norwegian authorities.
Could the Minister give more precise information regarding the area in which the Irish company are seeking rights?
That does not arise.
The Minister mentioned it in his reply.
I did not. I said that discussions have not taken place with Norwegian fishery interests about the possibility of providing special facilities for Norwegians to fish in Irish waters. It would pay Deputies to listen. Contacts have, however, been established with the Norwegian authorities concerning an application by an Irish company for an interest in a petroleum exploration licence in the Norwegian offshore area. We are talking about petrol.
With regard to the possibility of exchanging fishery rights, did the Minister state that we do not have to consult the EEC in this matter?
I said we must consult the EEC.
If the Government do not intend to give a fishery concession in return for the oil concession, what other concession have the Government in mind?
That is certainly a separate question.
One would assume that the Minister has a detailed brief on this question.
I am here to answer fishery questions.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Presumably the Minister is aware that a report appeared in some newspapers that there was a question of granting fishery rights here to Norwegians in exchange for oil rights. Is there any truth in that, or is there any foundation for that report?
I answered that before the Deputy came into the House.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Deputy was in the House. If there is any foundation for it, surely the Minister must have given some consideration to what was to be given to the Norwegians in exchange for these oil rights.
As the Deputy is well aware, any Minister in charge of any Department always gives consideration to any matter. At present no proposal has come to me for my consideration.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Who initiated the subject matter of that report? Is there any foundation for it, or is it just a myth?
There is a very positive foundation in that the Irish Government, through the Minister and the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy, naturally are interested in any guaranteed supplies of oil that can be obtained from what you might call a friendly area like Norway.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely if they are, they know what they are prepared to offer in return and that is what the House wants to know.
The matter will be open for further discussions when proposals emerge. No proposals have emerged.
Has the Minister been involved in any discussions so far?
No.
(Cavan-Monaghan): So the whole thing is a myth.
Things are never black or white, as Deputy Fitzpatrick should have learned in his few years as a Minister.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I did not learn how to waffle as well as the Minister.
