Martin Ferris
Ceist:72 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps he proposes to take to counteract the detrimental effects of the proposed reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy. [22460/02]
Priority Questions. - Common Fisheries Policy.
The negotiations on the Common Fisheries Policy reform proposals are reaching a critical stage and the Danish Presidency of the Council has stated its commitment to reaching agreement on the reform package at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 16 to 19 December. Critical negotiations involving the Presidency and the Commission are planned for the Council on 27 and 28 November. The priorities for the Irish industry in the Commission's proposals and the strategy for pursuing them have been worked out in close association with the Irish national strategy review group on the CFP under the chairmanship of Padraic White. Industry representatives have also been involved.
I am involved in an intensive programme of meetings with fellow Ministers at European level to create alliances on key priorities with France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain and the UK. Over the past two weeks I held detailed discussions with the Portuguese Fisheries Minister and the Danish Minister for Fisheries who currently holds the Presidency of the Council for Agriculture and Fisheries. The meeting with the Portuguese Minister focused on shared concerns about possible changes to the regulations governing the Irish Box and western waters. The discussions with the Danish Minister focused on identifying priorities and ensuring that the Presidency understands the basis for the changes we are seeking to the Commission's proposals in any compromise.
I held a bilateral meeting involving the Irish fishing industry last week with Commissioner Fischler, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries, with whom I took the opportunity to hold a private meeting to impress on him the critical importance of delivering change in the reform package to address the disproportionate impact the package will have on the Irish fishing industry. I will be working in close association with industry representatives to advance Ireland's position in the negotiations and I have arranged further meetings with ministerial colleagues in Europe. I will keep in close contact with the Presidency and the Commissioner in the coming weeks.
I am committed to finding compromises that achieve the sustainability necessary for the long-term future of the industry in the most effective and equitable manner without creating unnecessary hardship in our coastal communities.
I find the mention of the word "compromise" by the Minister disturbing because the fishing industry is well aware of the compromises that have been made since 1972. Does the Minister agree that the current threat to the fishing industry here is another consequence of the consistent failure of successive Governments to safeguard the national interest? Does he further agree that the estimated €120 billion worth of fish taken from Irish waters since accession to the EU more than compensates for the €30 billion we have received? Does the Minister accept that Ireland is a net donor to the EU as a result of the taking of natural resources, such as our fishing stocks, by other European countries? Will the Minister assure the House that the Government will refuse to accept any opening of the Irish Box conservation area and support the fishermen's organisations which have unanimously rejected the Commissioner's proposed cuts on TAC and the methodology by which those proposals were reached? Will the Minister challenge a methodology which forces Irish fishermen to give up the industry and assure the House that he will not allow that to happen?
I attended a meeting last week which was addressed by the Commissioner who told us that his legal advice indicated that Spanish access to the Irish Box was guaranteed. He also said quite clearly that this was the result of its accession to the EU. The supposed scientific advice available regarding cod, haddock and flatfish argues the necessity of a reduction in fishing, particularly of cod, but the evidence and advice from fishermen is that there has been a modest revival of cod stocks over the past two years. Does the Minister accept what the fishermen's association and those involved in the industry say? Today I heard proposals for an 80% reduction in fishing for cod, a 40% cut for flat fish and a 60% cut for haddock. Does the Minister accept that this will be detrimental to the survival of the fishing industry and, if so, what does he propose to do to defend it?
I am somewhat surprised to hear Deputy Ferris castigating the use of the word "compromise". If we had a bit of compromise in the North we might have had some semblance of peace and stability on our island over the past 30 years.
Hear, hear.
We have been compromising since 1921.
Deputy Ferris is a member of the Technical Group which also comprises members of the Green Party, and I suggest he works on some of them. If they had their way, particularly in Europe, we would have no fishing industry.
We would have proper conservation. That is a disgraceful comment. Conservation is what we are talking about.
Deputy Ferris might use his influence in that respect. I have been working very closely with the industry and it knows full well my views and those of my officials on the preservation of the Irish Box. We will be using every method available to fight for that, but we are one member of a 15 member Union and there are countries with a larger number of votes than we have at the Council table. I could walk out, but I will not because it is better to be in there fighting for a good compromise to guarantee the fishing industry moves forward. In regard to the comments last week of Commissioner Fischler, the industry accepted that the implementation of EU law cannot be discriminatory. If there is pain to be taken, it must be taken proportionately by other countries, not just by Ireland.