Mr. Seán O'Donoghue:

I disagree completely with what was said. We are getting distorted facts and are rewriting history. The bottom line is that in 1983, the quota for the total allowable catch for mackerel was set at an EU level. The historical record between 1976 and 1979 decided on the percentage share we got. I am not the only one talking about the RSW. I refer specifically to the Department's memorandum on the review where it says that the 23 dedicated RSW pelagic boats historically fished about 98% of Ireland's total mackerel catch. It said that up to 2000, less than 1,000 tonnes were fished by the polyvalent boats. We have now gone from 1,000 tonnes up to almost 8,000 or 9,000 so anybody telling me that I am distorting the facts is absolutely wrong. I can stand over my figures and they have been proven. I know people in front of me are shaking their heads but I can show these figures. It is not just me. The Department produced these figures as well.

While I have the floor, I would like to address Deputy Penrose's question about the extra 14%. The Department has not allocated the extra amount of fish so it is not just a matter of taking the tonnage and splitting it. If the review goes ahead, instead of the 27 RSW vessels having 13%, they will end up with 27%. That is basically robbing Peter to pay Paul and will have a huge effect. I can understand where the Deputy is coming from. One could think that it is only 14,000 tonnes but that is not the case. It is the percentage share that matters. What I am saying, which I said in my submission, is that if this happens, it will ultimately lead to job losses in Donegal both at sea and ashore.