Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I welcome this opportunity to address the crisis in the fishing industry in advance of next week's meeting of the Council of Ministers. It is appropriate that an industry worth €750 million to the Irish economy and employing approximately 12,000 should be afforded proper political scrutiny and attention. It is worth pointing out also that it is an industry located substantially, though not entirely, in geographically challenged locations for alternative industries. If the fishing industry disappears in these areas, there will be few alternatives.

The industry faces numerous challenges to its viability although, due to time restrictions, I will not elaborate on all of them. They include diesel costs, quota restrictions, imports, falling fish prices, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the failure to brand and market Irish fish, illogical conservation measures to deal with by-catch, and a regulatory regime that is perceived to be heavy-handed and which is at variance with the EU norm.

The unambiguous message that needs to go out from this debate is that, without a financial rescue package, the industry will collapse. There is provision at EU level for this and the Minister will have to deliver on it in a very tight timeframe. I do not want to hear talk of learning curves for Ministers new to their Departments. If one is in the job, one is expected by fishermen to be on the job.

I accept these negotiations are not straightforward. In this context, a couple of markers must be put down. It is preferable that the aid be EU derived. However, protracted wrangling for months on end is not an option. This must be decided next week at the meeting of the Council of Ministers. If not, fishermen will simply go out of business. If there is to be State aid, so be it. Vigilance is necessary to ensure that Irish fishermen are not at a cost disadvantage in this regard vis-À-vis the French and Spanish, whose Exchequer pockets are deeper. Payments per boat to the industry are needed now to stave off collapse and such payment must not detract from existing approval for State aid in the decommissioning process.

The Cawley report is the accepted blueprint for the industry. It would be appropriate at this time to ask its authors to carry out a review of the industry and its current state of health so the blueprint can be updated and revised to take account of the current crisis.

With diesel prices increasing at an alarming rate, it needs to be noted that the Government is receiving a windfall financial gain it did not envisage at the beginning of the financial year. The proceeds of up to 75% of catch are now spent on diesel costs in many instances. This, allied to wage costs and stagnant or declining fish prices, means many cannot sustain the current losses indefinitely.

One of the reasons for stagnant or falling fish prices is the dumping on the EU market of illegal, unreported and unregulated fish. This matter is the subject of a report of the European Parliament adopted recently on 5 June 2008. This report suggests that up to 50% of catch could fall into this category in the area of cod and tuna, for example. The report deals in a comprehensive fashion with the problem, proposing a system of vessel identification, port control, certification of fish as legal, banning of imports from non-co-operating countries and inspection by EU states at a rate of 50% at ports where third country vessels dock. The original percentage of inspections proposed was 15%. The recommendations of the report should be implemented immediately. If implemented, they will deliver an improved price to fishermen for their catch. The report is a declared priority of the Slovenian EU Presidency. Next week's meeting will probably be the final one under that Presidency and therefore the Minister should push strongly for the implementation of the recommendations.

Conservation must be at the heart of the Common Fisheries Policy. I understand — although, despite my best efforts, I cannot get confirmation from the Irish Marine Institute — that science now supports an increase in cod quota in the Celtic Sea. If so, this needs to be delivered immediately. If one takes into account the opening remarks on the management on cod quota this year, one will realise it makes it all the more urgent.

The lunacy that obliges accidental catch to be discarded over board in the name of conservation must be ended. I acknowledge the contribution of the Minister of State in this regard. The practice of discarding in the North Atlantic 1.3 billion tonnes of fish is nothing short of immoral. It may be dressed up as conservation but does not stand up to scrutiny in this regard. The practice must be considered in light of the global switch from food production to bio-fuel production at a time of food shortages. This requires immediate redress. I am not suggesting for an instant that the European Union needs to dilute its commitment to appropriate conservation measures because this is what will ensure the survival of the industry in the longer term. Conservation needs to be scientifically based but the dumping of fish stands up to no scrutiny whatever in the name of conservation. It is practically immoral.

A wide chasm now exists between the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, and the fishing community. At the heart of this is the legislation that criminalises fishermen for offences that elsewhere in the Union are dealt with by way of administrative sanction. A uniform approach to these issues is required across the Union. More resources need to be devoted by the SFPA to boarding and inspecting foreign trawlers, which take over 80% of the catch from Irish waters. The notion of shooting fish in a barrel comes to mind with regard to the disproportionate attention accorded to Irish fishermen in this regard.

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recently met representatives of the SFPA and members noted the authority is revising its service level with the Naval Service in terms of increased boardings of non-Irish trawlers. The number of inspections needs to be significantly higher. If 80% of the catch in Irish waters is being taken by foreign fleets, 80% of the boardings should be of those vessels.

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