Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The arrangement in respect of Norway's access to European waters has been in place since the eighties, that is, for about 40 years, and it comes up for negotiation every year. Over the past four years, each time it has come up for negotiation, I have taken a very hard line on the fact it is primarily Irish waters that are accessed and those members states benefiting from the access should be the ones to pay for it. We have seen a reduction in the blue whiting transfer to the benefit of Ireland. I have also succeeded in excluding Norway from the Irish box and further restricting its access to Irish waters. I have also consistently raised the issue of unsustainable fishing and I will very ardently do so again. I have to work with other member states to get a final position on it, and I will seek to do that. Different member states have different views. The swap arrangements that are in place have formed an important part of other member states' fisheries for many years so they will obviously have a view on the matter. My view of what is happening is very clear, however. It is not just Norway. It is also the Faroe Islands and Iceland. They have no access to Irish waters. I have ardently resisted that and taken a very hard line on any potential access for Iceland, something that has been mooted over recent years. I have led out at European level in taking a very strong line on that. As a result, there has been no deal with Iceland. I have also sought to restrict and reduce the arrangements in place with Norway to the benefit of Ireland. This is the most significant manifestation of the impact of unsustainable fishing of the mackerel stock we have seen. People need to sit up and take note. We need to respond very strongly in the approach we take.