Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am entitled to reply and defend the system and the sea fishery officers who do their work. We have those systems in places. As a result of the recent review of the Common Fisheries Policy, we have these responsibilities and we are taking them seriously. I am a great believer in, and the one person who realises the importance of, managing quotas now that the landings are restricted so that we can get full advantage from this. We monitor the system on a regular basis so that we do not have a glut of fish and with the lesser quantities being landed, we can ensure better quality and maximum prices.

I draw the Deputy's attention to the Commission's control scoreboard of last week, from where this all has possibly emanated. It is important not to take the headline from that because that scoreboard was not a fair and balanced assessment of the situation. It referred to three of 60 species. Anyone who understands the industry knows that one cannot cut off to the last tonne or kilo at the end of the year. It referred to black scabbard, prawns and scad. All those were deducted from the quota in the previous year and therefore there were no losers. In Europe, those who understand the industry will agree that there should be an additional 10% at the end of any year, where a shortfall should lead to a carryover and an excess should lead to a reduction.

I will facilitate any Member of this House, and particularly the spokespersons, in visiting ports. It is easy to criticise from the comfort of our offices in Dublin.

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