Vol. 449 No. 5
1 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Fisheries Council meeting in December 1994; and the action, if any, he intends taking to ensure protection and conservation measures in the Irish Box after 31 December 1995. [4108/95]
From an Irish perspective, the principal matters considered at the December Council were the fishing quota allocations for 1995 and the Iberian Accession arrangements.
In relation to the quota allocations, an additional 6,200 tonnes of valuable whitefish stocks for Ireland over and above the Commission's original proposals were negotiated. In addition, an increase of 750 tonnes in the herring quota was gained. In overall cash terms, the increases won for Ireland at the Council were worth up to £6.6 million.
The Iberian Accession issue was the most important matter considered at the Council. I am satisfied that the agreement reached on the integration of Spain and Portugal into the Common Fisheries Policy represents a good outcome for Ireland and is in accord with the objectives set by my predecessor, Deputy David Andrews, who laid the foundations in the negotiations which I was able to complete.
I supported the agreement as it addressed most of our key concerns and demands. We must now ensure that the principles agreed will be translated into a proper legal framework which will provide for the introduction of an effective system to apply from 1 January 1996. Thus, much hard work and difficult negotiation remain to be done.
One of Ireland's key concerns relates to the Irish Box. I am happy to say that our tough and determined approach in the negotiations helped us achieve a satisfactory outcome on this issue.
The Irish fishing industry was rightly concerned about the likely adverse impact of opening of access to Spanish vessels to this sensitive area and the serious implications this would have for the existing balances and fishing activity. It must also be remembered that the Treaty of Accession for Spain stipulated that the Irish Box must expire by 31 December 1995.
The main elements of the agreement on the Irish box can be summarised as follows: continued recognition of the Irish Box as a sensitive zone; total exclusion of Spanish vessels will be Irish Sea; only 40 Spanish vessels from the entitled to fish in other areas of the Irish Box; the total number of Spanish vessels to be allowed into the Irish 200 mile control zone will continue to be limited to 93 which includes the 40 vessels mentioned above and there must be no increase in total fishing effort; new exit and entry reporting arrangements in and out of the Irish Box will apply in respect of vessels over 15 meters with effect from 1 January 1996 and new catch reporting arrangements to the Irish authorities will come into effect from 1 January 1998 at the latest.
The Council also committed itself to the provision of additional financial support for Ireland, including for the first time operating costs, towards the heavy costs incurred by Ireland arising from its heavy surveillance commitments.
These were lengthy and difficult negotiations. I was greatly encouraged in the negotiations at the December Council by the support and advice I received from the four Irish fishing organisations and from my officials bearing in mind that I was only two days in the job. I am confident that the agreement reached in December is a good one from an Irish point of view. Taken together with the enhanced resources, particularly fixed wing aircraft available to the protection services, it provides for effective monitoring and control of fishing in our waters and ensures that the interests of the Irish fishing industry will continue to be protected.
There must be controls, surveillance and monitoring to protect our interests. Will the Minister assure the House — the Commission is currently drafting the regulations — that the agreement will not be weakened and that the regulations will be implemented to protect our fishing industry?
The Deputy has raised an important question. The principles were agreed in Brussels in December. It is essential that the details are carefully laid down in a legal framework. I will be extremely vigilant in this regard. On the question of implementation of controls, in addition to the seven vessels we already possess, we will shortly take possession of two sophisticated Spanish manufactured Cessna aircraft — this is ironic — which will enable the Naval Service to pinpoint the position of trawlers within the Irish maritime zone and to direct ships on the surface to where they are required. This will help us greatly.
The Minister is an optimist if he believes that. He knows he does not have enough vessels.
If more vessels are needed I will fight to obtain them.
Is the Minister aware that concern has been expressed that under the agreement the capacity of the Spanish fleet will exceed its fishing quota and would necessitate some reduction?
I am aware that the size of the Spanish fleet is excessive in comparison with its quota. Negotiations are taking place with all parties to the agreement to bring the size of their fleets into line with their quotas. I am most interested in the size of the Spanish fleet in this regard. We will have to be vigilant to ensure that the Spanish fleet will not exceed its quota. I am determined to ensure that our surveillance capability will be greatly enhanced.
On the question of surveillance a radical improvement is essential. Is it true that the Naval Service boarded more Irish fishing vessels in the past year than vessels carrying the flag of other states?
I do not have a precise answer for the Deputy although I have seen the figures. The Deputy is correct in saying that the Naval Service boarded more Irish vessels——
Who was the Minister then?
I cannot answer that question.
I should not have to remind the House that when dealing with priority questions, only the Member who tabled the question is entitled to ask a supplementary question or intervene.
Rather than answer the question imprecisely, I will obtain the figures for the Deputy and forward them to him.
Since the Minister mentioned the support he is getting from the Spanish in terms of aerial surveillance, will aerial surveillance suffice in law for a prosecution?
We are extending the subject matter of this question.
The primary purpose of the aerial surveillance is to direct the ships on the surface to the trawlers they want boarded. The question, therefore, of identifying a trawler purely from the air and basing a prosecution on that does not arise because the trawler must be boarded anyway to determine the information on catch and so on. I do not think it is the intention to base prosecutions entirely on aerial surveillance.
