Alan Shatter
Ceist:74 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Marine if the new fisheries agreement between Canada and the European Union will benefit the Irish fishing industry.
Written Answers. - EU-Canada Fisheries Agreement.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:101 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine if the new fisheries agreement between Canada and the European Union will benefit the Irish fishing industry.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 101 together.
The European Commission is currently in the process of negotiating a framework fisheries agreement with Canada. This would effectively set out the broad parameters within which annual EC-Canada fisheries agreements could be set. Assuming adoption of the framework agreement before the end of 1993, the Commission would then proceed to negotiate an agreement for 1994 providing for quota entitlements of specific species and quantities from Canada in return, possibly, for assistance from the European Union in areas such as stock assessments and training.
I understand that there exists the possibility that fishing rights for mackerel in Canadian waters may be made available to boats of the European Union. This is something which I will, of course, be watching very closely with a view to assisting Irish vessels that wish to do so in acquiring the opportunity to fish for such stocks.