Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 4

Written Answers. - Common Fisheries Policy.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

28 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, his Department has to pursue at EU level an extension of the twelve mile limit as incorporated in the Common Fisheries Policy which will continue until the year 2002; his views on whether the six to 12 mile zone access allowed to specified foreign vessels should be eliminated in view of the serious reduction in fish stocks; his Department's plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12278/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

Continuation of the longstanding rule restricting access within the 12 mile limit of member states will fall to be decided by Council before the end of 2002 under the review of the 1992 Common Fisheries Policy regulation.

Under the existing CFP rules, access within the six mile limit is exclusive to Irish vessels right around the coast. In certain parts of the Irish six to 12 miles limit, there is restricted access for certain member states — Belgium, UK, France, Netherlands and Germany — with traditional fishing rights. The general assessment is that no member state will wish to see a change to the status quo on the six and 12 mile limits and the Commission has publicly confirmed this on a number of occasions. It would be in Ireland's interest to secure the permanent embodiment in the CFP regulation of the six to 12 mile limit.