Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The objectives have been set out by the Minister on the negotiations and agreed transitional arrangements, and these are important for fisheries. The two clear objectives are maintaining our existing quota share and our existing right to access. This must be continued. As I see it, there are a number of negotiations ongoing. There is the negotiation between member states and the UK and after that comes a second round of negotiation, depending on the outcome of that first negotiation. That will mean the Common Fisheries Policy will have to be revisited. The Minister states that with regard to the UK territorial waters, we will lose nearly half of our total value of annual quota. The Irish fishery income would be reduced by half. The impact of that would be far greater here than in any of the other member states.

It has huge implications for our coastal communities, particularly for the two species mentioned with mackerel at 64% and prawns at 43%. The second negotiation will have to be renegotiating the Common Fisheries Policy. It must be renegotiated to ensure that we will have a viable industry for the future. I listened to the interaction between Senator Mac Lochlainn and the Minister and his officials. Senator Mac Lochlainn raised very important points relating to the quantity and type of fish being taken from the territorial waters of the Twenty-six Counties. We cannot get an answer on that, yet the Minister can tell us that 64% of mackerel and 43% of prawns are taken from the UK territorial waters. He cannot tell us the quantity of fish taken from the territorial waters of the Twenty-six Counties and who gets it.

I will put a question to the Minister's officials and I want an answer. What is the amount of fish taken from the territorial waters of the Twenty-six Counties, who are the beneficiaries of that, what is the market value of the species taken from those waters and what is the contrast with what Irish registered and owned vessels take from those waters and its value? I will not accept that this information cannot be given to us. I can go on the Internet and see what vessels are fishing off the west coast and where they are fishing. All those vessels have log books. They know exactly what they are allowed to catch, what they catch and where the catch is landed. What percentage of fish taken from the territorial waters of the Twenty-six Counties is landed in the island of Ireland?

I also have a question on the voisinageagreement. Can that proceed this side of Brexit being concluded? In my view, everything had to stop after the British Government activated Article 50. Perhaps the Minister will explain it.