asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the amount of fish imported into the EEC from third countries to the latest date for which figures are available in 1980, and the comparable figures for 1979 and 1978.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Fish Imports.
18.
My Department have asked the EEC Commission for the most up-to-date statistics available of imports into the Community but these are still awaited. I will forward them to the Deputy as soon as they become available.
Is it not the situation that the EEC have not got any figures on imports from other countries? That is my information. Further, is the Minister aware that at the moment whiting is being sold by some fishermen for a price as low as 4p per lb? The reason for that is imports into the EEC. What steps does the Minister intend to take to stop imports from third countries in order that our fishermen may have a worth-while living?
My Department have to rely on the EEC Commission for statistics on imports and exports into the Community. The information Deputy Deasy asked for was sought by my Department before the question was put down. I have details for 1978 and 1979 but figures for 1980 are not available.
Will the Minister please give the House the figures for 1978 and 1979?
The following are the figures in respect of imports of fish and fishery products into Ireland from third countries for the 12 months ended 31 December 1979 with comparative figures for the preceding year. For fresh or frozen fish—salmon and cod—the figures for 1979 were 210.9 tonnes to the value of £390,298; the figures for the preceding year were 110.4 tonnes valued at £73,808; for salted, dried and smoked fish the quantity involved was 0.1 tonne valued at £482; the figures for 1978 were 0.2 tonne, value £869; for shellfish, fresh, frozen, salted and dried, the figures for 1979 were 52.7 tonnes valued at £167,635; the figures for 1978 were 66.7 tonne valued at £161,541; the largest quantity was in respect of prepared or preserved fish which would include canned salmon, sardines, tunny and mackerel and in this instance the figures for 1979 were 893.9 tonnes valued at £1,799,847; the figures for 1978 were 1,178 tonnes valued at £2,-175,801.
Am I correct in assuming that these are the amounts imported into the EEC from third countries?
Into Ireland from third countries.
My question related to the amount of fish imported into the EEC from third countries.
I have looked for these figures from the Commission but they are not available. I will give them to the Deputy and to Deputy Deasy when they are available.
Am I right in assuming that these figures are not available even in the EEC?
We have difficulty in getting them from them.
I am calling Question No. 19.
This is a very serious matter so far as the fishing industry is concerned.
The Chair has allowed what could be regarded as the average number of supplementaries on this question.
The Minister knows this is a serious matter. The EEC have not got figures regarding fish imports into the Community. Therefore, we cannot deal with those figures because we do not know them.
I have a certain amount of experience of the amount of documentation the EEC Commission produce. I would be surprised if they did not have those figures.
I ask the Minister to let me have them when he gets the information.