Vol. 562 No. 4
153 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to the continued restriction on access to the Irish box; the main elements of the Presidency compromise in regard thereto; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6241/03]
The position of the Irish Government is that Regulations 685/95 and 2027/95 continue in place and have full legal effect. Accordingly, the Irish authorities are monitoring activity within the Irish box closely. To date the level of activity by Spanish vessels in the Irish box has remained below the 40 vessels at any one time threshold in the regulations.
The Presidency has not to date brought forward a compromise proposal on the Irish box and western waters. The Commission proposal on the management of effort in western waters was presented to the Fisheries Council in December. The Commission proposal involves getting rid of the Irish box completely. I have rejected this approach and I am seeking revisions to the proposal to provide for the Irish box as a separate conservation zone and the restriction on fishing effort within the box based on current levels of fishing activity. I have made strong representations to Minister Drys, the Greek Fisheries Minister, who currently holds the Presidency of the Fisheries Council to have Ireland's priorities reflected in a compromise text. The Presidency is still examining the text and has not to date brought forward a compromise. I will continue to seek to influence any such compromise in order that the Irish box is maintained in EU legislation as an effective conservation zone.
