Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of options that have been suggested by various different players in this space. The first issue I have to address in terms of representing Ireland's interests is directly with the Commission. The mandate I have given to our team in Brussels is that it cannot be a case of business as usual. That is not acceptable or tolerable. In taking that position, I am mindful that I do not have a veto and that to get a blocking minority, I have to work with other states. Over the course of the summer, those of us who were around this space were apprised of the declining pelagic stocks, particularly mackerel, based on last year's cut of 20%. I engaged over the summer with member states and fisheries ministers in those states to build a better understanding of the challenges Ireland faces. I met with the Commissioner on a number of occasions and spoke with him last week when the advice came out.

I have made it very clear that the tools that are available to us will be deployed on this occasion.

There is a measure known as the Hague preferences, which the committee may have discussed earlier. It is a methodology that allows Ireland to recoup some of what is lost in negotiations when the allowable catch falls below a certain threshold. We used it last year. A number of member states made it clear to me that they intend to challenge that this year, if we deploy it again. I have made it very clear that we will assert our rights and entitlements under the Hague preferences.