Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 6

Written Answers. - Fishing Fleet Protection.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

21 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by fishermen's organisations in the north-west regarding the inadequacy of the blue whiting quota allocated to Ireland at the recent meeting of the Council of Ministers; the steps, if any, he is taking to have the quota increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16013/99]

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

I am very pleased to have this opportunity to brief the House on the outcome of my negotiations at the recent fisheries council on the blue whiting quota allocation.

To fully appreciate the outcome of those negotiations for Ireland, the House should be aware of the background and circumstances in which we were operating.

The Commission's proposal for allocating the EU blue whiting quota emerged at the end of May. My fundamental opposition to the Commission's proposal and that of the Irish fishing industry was made clear from the start. The commission's proposal from all perspectives was questionable and inequitable. The commission's allocation methodology was seriously flawed and skewed in favour of other member states, giving some of them quotas equal to 150 per cent of their highest ever catch. Ireland on the other hand was being allocated the equivalent of only 40 per cent of its average catch over the last three years. The House should be aware however that, with the exception of the UK, all other member states were in favour of the commission's proposal. We were facing into council with the very strong prospect of a done deal based on qualified majority. I took immediate and sustained action before the council to ensure that the German Presidency was fully aware that this was a matter of vital national interest for Ireland and that in this case qualified majority could not be allowed to roll over the direct interests of a small member state. The Taoiseach was in contact with Chancellor Schroeder before and during the Cologne Summit and I maintained intensive dialogue with Minister Funke before and at the Fisheries Council. I also kept the fishing organisations fully briefed on the action I was taking to have this seemingly unstoppable proposal reversed.

I am pleased to say that our very intensive negotiating strategy paid dividends. The German Presidency accepted the compelling nature of the Irish case and that a vital national interest was at stake for Ireland. The outcome, which was achieved by the presidency through an increase of 17,000 tonnes in this year's overall blue whiting total allowable catch, resulted in an additional 10,000 tonnes for Ireland bringing our allocation to 24,000 tonnes. The critical consequence of this was the resultant 50 per cent increase in Ireland's permanent allocation key for future years raising our permanent share of the blue to 16 per cent and putting us ahead of France and Spain. Ireland's allocation is equivalent to the average of the industry's best three years in the fishery before 1999 and significantly improves our position in the hierarchy of permanent shares of this stock. I believe that those fishermen and processors directly involved in the blue whiting fishery recognise that this is a very good outcome against the odds. It does not mean that we can afford to be complacent about the difficulties which Ireland experiences under the Common Fisheries Policy but it does show that with a sustained and well supported case an equitable result can be achieved.