Vol. 441 No. 2
47 Mr. P.J. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the implications for the Irish fishing industry of Article 31 of the European Economic Area Agreement which came into force in January 1994, which encourages the possibility of new non-EU flagship operations establishing themselves in Ireland.
The application of the terms of the European Economic Area Agreement in so far as fisheries is concerned is limited by Article 20 of the agreement which provides that the "Provisions and arrangements that apply to fish and other marine products are set out in Protocol 9".
Thus the remainder of the agreement, including Article 31 which provides for the right of establishment, does not apply to the fisheries sector. Accordingly, there is no possibility of the EEA Agreement providing encouragement to new non-EU flagship operations establishing themselves in Ireland.
