Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presentation and acknowledge the officials from the Department. Certainly his presentation paints a bleak picture in the run up to the December Council meeting. The December Council meeting is very important as it sets out the quota allocation for the following year. Before going into the detail of what is proposed, I take issue with one element of his presentation, that is, the allocation of the herring quota.

This was because the criteria that was used to allocate quota was very prescriptive and unfair. This has caused the loss of approximately 250 part-time jobs in Donegal. This is unfair and I ask the Minister to take another look at the issue. Vessels that may not have been fishing in the years selected by the Department, but which have a history going back 20 or 30 years of fishing for herring, are now precluded from doing so because of the new criteria introduced. This should be examined. We are talking about people who have invested significant amounts of money in vessels, but are now precluded from fishing for herring. The knock-on effects of this, acknowledged by BIM in its synopsis, affect the fuel industry, the cargo industry, lorries and the 250 part-time jobs over six or eight weeks in the processing plants in Killybegs and Kincasslagh.

With regard to the proposals and the documentation provided, I agree with the Minister that the Marine Institute is an extremely reputable organisation throughout the world and its advice will certainly be key in the lead up to the negotiations. If we consider what was proposed at the June fishery Council meeting, under the Cypriot Presidency, if that was implemented, it would devastate or wipe out the fishing industry here in Ireland. The first proposal estimated that the proposal, as it currently stands, would result in a net reduction of fishing opportunity in quotas for the Irish white fish and prawn industry of 21% by volume. In financial terms, this would be in the region of €15.4 million, or 14% over what it is this year. This would have a detrimental effect and cannot be accepted.

The Minister outlined the other proposals, including a 12% reduction in fishing opportunities in the Celtic Sea and the waters off the west coast, which would result in a €10.6 million loss in production. The overall loss in the Irish Sea amounts to 44%, with a resultant economic fishery production loss to the fleets of whitefish and prawn to the value of €2.2 million. The quotas of the north-west fishing fleets would be reduced by 20%, with a fishery production income loss of €1.4 million, which would effectively bring about the demise of the white fishing and prawn fleet and have a significant negative impact on Greencastle and Killybegs.

There is scientific data to support every argument. For example, when the ban on salmon fishing was introduced in 2006, scientific data was used in making that decision. However, I believe the decision taken by the Government at the time was wrong. The data was skewed and did not take into account the damage being done in rivers throughout the country where spawning beds were destroyed. No protection was given to spawning beds on salmon rivers and poaching and pollution issues were not addressed. The easy option was taken, namely, to penalise the inshore and draft net fishermen. I believe that was a wrong decision, particularly for island fishermen. However, that decision was taken, but that debate is for another day. I have reservations with regard to the scientific data being used. The pressure being inflicted on the European Commission and on the Minister by NGOs does not rest easy with me, because we are talking about people who have traditionally fished at sea. These people have co-operated as best they can with the Department and with the regulations set down. If these particular proposals are implemented, we will wipe out or severely damage an industry and way of life for many people.

We need to look at the proposals and at the strategy of the Department going into the December Council. The Hague preferences were always a safety net and that is outlined in the documentation that has been circulated and in the Minister's speech. The loss of these allocations next year would amount to a loss of 1,625 tonnes, or a direct value of almost €3 million to the Irish fishing industry. While I do not believe all of the proposals will be implemented, what strategy is Ireland adopting towards the proposals? Has there been any consultation with other member states or other Ministers in the context of seeking support to try and counteract some of the proposals coming forward from the Commission? Does the Minister envisage the matters, as proposed, will be finalised at the December Council meeting or will they drag on into the new year?