Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for attending. He has outlined that the current proposals could lead to an overall cost of €54 million for the fishing sector and the economy. It is quite stark and the Minister and his officials will be seeking to mitigate that figure at the Council meeting. We had a similar meeting in this regard last year when there were similar difficulties with proposals related to a number of catches. Can the Minister recall how it worked out at the Council versus what was on the plate beforehand? How far was he able to mitigate the figure last year and how exactly did it pan out?

The mackerel allocation is particularly significant for an important sector in the fishing industry. The Minister has indicated that it will depend on external agreements.

Where does that stand? Last year scientific advice was given by ICES on the available fish stocks. How did it come about that incorrect information was provided which led to a correction? Does the Minister believe the factors that led to that incorrect information being provided have been addressed? Can he stand over what is included in the stock book and the proposals made?