Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The fact the Minister states that these are only proposals offers some hope. I do not want to be negative or critical. I would say at the outset that the Minister is talking here about the sustainability in the future of many sectors in the Irish fishing fleet and as it stands, it makes worrying and disturbing reading. If this was implemented in full, it would be a disaster and it would finish many sectors.

All of us here who are from coastal communities, such as Deputy Harrington, the Minister and I, will be aware how difficult it has proven for fishermen to be able to remain in the sector with the exception of a few small sectors and we are also conscious of its knock-on effect, social implications and consequences for coastal rural communities, and the importance of getting as good a deal as possible here.

As an Opposition spokesperson, I will not be found wanting in offering support to get the best deal possible in that regard.

I assume most of the proposed reductions or cuts are primarily based on the scientific analysis on the various sectors. It has always worried me that scientific analysis, on its own, has been questioned and challenged consistently by various sectors at the coalface of the industry. I hope the various fishing sectors will have had an input into it.

The data show the proposed income reduction for the whitefish sector is €10.5 million, or 19%. The proposed reduction for the pelagic sector is €3.1 million, or 6%. Overall, this amounts to loss in direct income to the catching sector of €13.7 million. The cut affecting the Nephrops quota will be in the order of €10 million. For demersal fleets in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and along the west coast, the proposal envisages a 34% reduction in fishing opportunity. These figures are frightening and alarming for the various sectors.

The Minister stated many countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, came together on a regional basis earlier this month. Is the Minister building alliances with other countries and is he receiving support from other countries affected by the proposals? Small players in negotiations depend on alliances. I hope the Minister is getting support. Countries such as France, Spain and the Netherlands will be very much driven by self-interest regarding their fleets, etc. Are the proposals determined primarily by the scientific analysis carried out? Has there been any direct input by the sectors themselves into the analysis? Can the Minister envisage the measures being rolled back significantly in order to allow the Irish fishing sectors to survive?