Vol. 403 No. 9
7 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine when he intends setting up a review committee consisting of personnel from within his Department and from the fishing industry to prepare and formulate a case for the common fisheries policy review; and his views on whether a satisfactory renegotiation of Ireland's case will take place in 1992.
28 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine whether he will insist in the context of the EC fisheries policy review that the allocation of fishing quotas should reflect the EC commitment at a wider level to reducing disparities between control and peripheral regions.
, Limerick West): I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 28 together.
My Department have already undertaken quite an amount of work in preparation for the forthcoming review of the Common Fisheries Policy. As part of this work, I and my officials, have had ongoing consultations with industry representatives. I have assured these representatives that they will be consulted at all stages of the work and will be afforded every opportunity to make a constructive input to the process.
I am optimistic that we can continue to work closely together on this issue in the future. I am at present considering how best to involve the industry and other interests in the more formal consultative process.
I have already asked the Commission to meet with industry representatives here in Ireland when the review process gets under way here in 1991. The sole criterion I intend to apply in relation to arrangements is that they facilitate a clear and complete presentation to be made to the Commission.
In the negotiations leading up to the mid-term review of the Common Fisheries Policy I will be pursuing vigorously the best interests of Irish fishermen in all areas with the aim of ensuring that they are fully protected. I will in particular be pressing the case that the Common Fisheries Policy should, in all its aspects, make a positive contribution to bringing about greater economic and social cohesion within the Community.
Is the Minister in a position to elaborate to the House on the case that will be presented by the Department of the Marine? Will the case be based on the proximity of Ireland to the natural resource which is the fishing resource? Being a peripheral State we are at a disadvantage, and in other areas, such as agriculture, we are given special consideration under the Structural Fund because of that. Will the Minister consider preparing a case based on peripherality?
Is the Minister in a position to outline to us whether the industry will be involved in a review committee? I appreciate the Minister, and the Department, are examining the case but is it intended to set up an official committee, including members of the various sectors of the fishing industry, to present a common case for all of Ireland?
I was hoping for brevity for the reasons I have so constantly outlined in dealing with Priority Questions.
It is an important matter, a Cheann Comhairle.
All questions are important to the Chair.
Is work being conducted along those lines? When will the committee be set up, and will it include all aspects of the industry?
(Limerick West): I want to assure the Deputy that the industry will be consulted all along the way. The Commission representatives will have an opportunity to meet all sectors of the industry and those in the industry will be able to express their views to the Commission. I want to assure the Deputy that the special problems of the low income areas will also be considered. Furthermore the Common Fisheries Policy was established on the basis of a Council regulation in 1972 and the review of the policy is scheduled for 1992, as I have already indicated. The Commission will be making a submission to the Council before the end of 1991. The report itself will cover the fisheries situation in the Community. As I have already indicated, the economic and social development of the coastal areas as well as the state of the stocks and their likely evolution will be considered.
As late as 17 October officials of my Department met with Mr. Van der Poele, the officer appointed by the Commission to draw up the review of the Common Fisheries Policy and they had an informal discussion on the aims and scope of the review. Mr. Van der Poele will visit Ireland as soon as possible to meet the officials of the industry and my Department in order to secure first hand knowledge of the matter. I want to assure the Deputy that her concerns are being taken into consideration and are already on board.
May I ask the Minister——
It has to be a very brief question, Deputy.
This is a very important matter. It is very fundamental to the future of the industry.
Please let us have a brief question. I want to try to dispose of the other questions also.
I have put only one supplementary to a priority question.
The Deputy has put a series of questions.
I appreciate that meetings will be held with the Commission and the industry. I want a specific answer from the Minister today whether a committee will be set up within his Department consisting of officials of the Department and members of the fishing industry, to jointly put together the case rather than in a consultative capacity.
Secondly, while I appreciate the Commission is presenting a case to the Council, are we here in Ireland not too dependent on what will emanate from the Commission? There is a need for the Department of the Marine to prepare a substantive case——
The Chair is being completely ignored in respect of his plea for relevance and brevity.
——rather than have the case put by the Commission.
(Limerick West): I want to assure the Deputy once again that we are well ahead of her suggestion. An interdepartmental committee comprising representatives of my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs was established in December 1989——
I know that, but I want to know about the fishing industry.
(Limerick West):——to develop a strategy which would enable Ireland to anticipate possible changes and influence policy at formative stages of the EC review. The most recent meeting of that committee was held on 28 November 1990.
I know that but I am asking about the industry.
Next question, please, Question No. 8.
