Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Ceist:34 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline his plans to increase Irish fish quotas, particularly in the traditional species; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fish Quotas.
Quotas for 1990 were set at the Council of Fisheries Ministers in December 1989. It is generally acknowledged that the overall outcome was highly satisfactory from the Irish point of view.
At the June 1990 Council, I succeeded in negotiating a significant increase in the quota for sole for Ireland, as well as a major favourable change in the rules governing fishing for horse mackerel.
The quotas for 1991 will, assuming the normal schedule applies, be set at the December 1990 Council. I will be aiming, in those negotiations, to ensure that the quotas set for Ireland will be the highest possible consistent with the scientific evidence available on the state of the stocks.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is vitally important in the long term interests of fishermen to ensure that fisheries are not damaged or disrupted by over exploitation.
We are now in the lead-in period to the December discussions, and I can assure the Deputy that in those discussions I will be pursuing vigorously the best interests of Irish fishermen.