asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry the volume of herring imported into the EC from third countries; the action he is taking to protect Irish herring fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - European Community Herring Imports.
20.
Imports of herring into the EC in 1983, 1984, 1985, from third countries (based on provisional data supplied by the EC Commission) were as follows: 1983 140,173 tonnes; 1984 108,445 tonnes and 1985 91,130 tonnes.
My predecessors have pressed, and I will continue to press, for reductions in such importations of herring into the Community at reduced duty levels and for a number of other measures to be taken at Community level to improve the market for Irish herring fishermen.
How much herring do we import from third countries?
I do not have that information.
It is a pity the Minister does not have that information.
If the Deputy puts down a question I will provide that information.
The Minister should have that information because he has been given adequate notice. His reply should have contained——
We cannot have an argument.
I will not argue, but it would have been nice if the Minister had known. Is he aware that Irish fishermen are landing herring which are being treated with dye and then dumped at uneconomic prices and at a considerable loss? It appears that fishermen from outside the EC enjoy our markets and we continue to pay the penalty. Does the Minister consider it reasonable to expect that member states and their inhabitants should be protected?
Inhabitants of where?
Inhabitants of EC countries.
The majority of imports from third countries originate in Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Sweden. Under the GATT agreement they are entitled to import herring into EC countries, but the amount they have been exporting to the EC countries over the last few years has fallen considerably. As the Deputy is aware it is the market for herring that is the problem.
This Minister and the Minister for Agriculture seem to use GATT as an umbrella. Surely the people in the Community should be looked after first and, if there is a need to import, then we can import under the GATT agreement.
The Deputy should not make a speech.
That is a fair question to which the fishermen of Ireland would like an answer.
It is not necessary for the Deputy to be truculent with the Chair.
I would not argue with the Chair under any circumstance, but I am very anxious to get an answer to my question.
Put your question.
I am not sure of the question the Deputy put. The Deputy appears to be talking about the protection of fishermen of the member states, particularly Irish herring fishermen. We have had an increase from 32,880 tonnes to 38,940 tonnes this year, an increase of 18 per cent, while the total increase in TAC was only 5.2 per cent——
We still dump herring.
A final question from Deputy Gallagher.
Does the Minister admit that there are difficulties in relation to imports from Canada? I understand that it is within the control of the Community to levy a duty on herring from Canada but, unfortunately, the Minister has not mentioned this. The Department may not think this is important, but I do. Would the Minister expand a little on the question he was asked: what action is he taking to protect Irish herring fisheries? We have no idea what he proposes to do. He also referred to "other measures". What is involved there?
I do not have information about Canada, but if the Deputy puts down a question I will get the information for him.
We are talking about third countries.
Is the Minister trying to cod us?
I am talking about the two countries from which the majority of imports come.
And the Minister is ignoring the others?
I did not go into as much detail as the Deputy wanted, but if Deputy Byrne had put down a better question he might have got a better answer.
What about the Canadians?
I resent that remark. As a Member of this House I can put down any question I like and it is up to the Minister to answer it reasonably and he is not doing so.
Can the Minister give the figures for Canada?
I do not have the details but if the Deputy asks a specific question I will give him a specific answer.
It is specific. If he has the information it is disgraceful that the Minister should come into the House without it because that is the kernel of the problem.
That concludes balloted questions.
(Interruptions.)
He should go back to his Department and speak to somebody there.