Mr. Se?n O'Donoghue:

I thank the Deputy. He has asked a lot of questions. My colleagues will deal with the questions on bluefin tuna and other matters. I will deal with the fuel subsidy first. As an industry, we cannot understand why a scheme has not been introduced. We are demanding at this stage that a scheme be introduced. The French, Germans and Swedes have introduced schemes. There is no impediment to the Minister introducing a scheme. He was given the go-ahead by the European Commission under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF. I think that was on 24 March 2022 and we are still waiting for a scheme.

On the different decommissioning rates, there are different conditions. I think I know most of the countries that are decommissioning. My understanding is that the common factor across them is that they have all ended up having to repay the temporary tie-up aid. That applies to the French, the Germans, the Danish and the Dutch. It is one thing to have it but, knowing how things operate, I doubt that some of these countries will end up paying it back.

The Deputy also asked about the 15% figure. That is a misnomer. The figure is correct but it totally underestimates the real effect in Ireland. The two biggest stocks that got hit in Ireland are mackerel, at 26%, and nephrops, at 14%. Those cuts are the ones that need to be looked at because they are so important to the Irish industry. The overall 15% figure gives a distorted picture.

On the MEPs and the December fisheries Council, the European Parliament has no role in setting tax and quotas and cannot get involved. It is not a matter for co-decision. While we have relationships with the MEPs, when it comes to tax and quotas we concentrate on the Ministers and the Commission. I did not answer all the Deputy's questions but perhaps Mr. Murphy can answer.