Mary Harney
Ceist:54 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Marine the progress, if any, which is being made with Ireland's application for EC aid towards surveillance costs.
Written Answers. - Fishery Surveillance Control.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:157 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine the level of contribution which the European Community makes towards the costs, including operational costs, of Ireland's fishery control programmes; if he expects this contribution to be increased in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 157 together.
In recognition of the major role which Ireland plays in the policing of Community waters, which amount approximately to 132,000 square miles of sea area or approximately 16 per cent of total EC waters, the EC approved a five year investment programme to cover the period from 1991 to 1995 at a total cost of £34 million.
Financial assistance is provided at a rate of 50 per cent towards the capital cost of equipment designed to strengthen Ireland's fishery protection capability. In 1991 the total aid package amounted to £8.8 million of which £4.4 million was provided by the EC, while last year expenditure amounting to £8.6 million was approved at a rate of 50 per cent.
This aid will significantly enhance Ireland's surveillance capability through the purchase of fixed-wing aircraft for the Air Corps, communications and data handling equipment for the Naval Service and the Department of the Marine. In addition, there is provision for the acquisition of inshore surveillance boats.
While up to now, operational costs have not been eligible for Community aid, it was agreed at last December's Fisheries Council on foot of a strong case made by Ireland for extending assistance in conjunction with the Commission's proposal on the new control regulation. It is expected that the matter will be considered at the Fisheries Council in June.
Peadar Clohessy
Ceist:55 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a Scottish boat has been dredging for mussels in Carlingford Lough near southern shore in County Louth; and the action, if any, he will take in this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, a natural mussel bed fishery was identified in Carlingford Lough in January 1993. Shortly thereafter, three vessels, all of which were registered in Northern Ireland, began to exploit this fishery.
On investigation the Department of the Marine found that the most productive mussel beds were located on the southern side of the Lough. Following discussions with the Northern authorities it was agreed that the fishery be regulated for the time being, under the Voisinage Agreement between the two Administrations which accords reciprocal access to fishing vessels from both Northern and Southern Ireland to their respective territorial waters.
In the course of these discussions it was agreed that two of the three dredgers fishing had no economic link with Northern Ireland and, accordingly, were asked to leave the fishery. It is understood that they have since done so leaving one dredger — theAtlantis Bell— working in tandem with a number of smaller Carlingford-based vessels.