Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

Something that does not necessarily relate to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, given that we do not have many opportunities to discuss fisheries is the additional funding emergency measures were agreed in July. It is still urgent that progress be made to make funds available at the earliest possible date. I understand that the Federation of Irish Fishermen, FIF, has made submissions and there is an ongoing campaign. We all know that fuel prices have decreased dramatically but the cost inputs for fishermen during that period were significant as were losses incurred during that period. We should support that measure. Will that €37 million expenditure be expedited? Perhaps the officials could revert to us in due course on this matter.

With the pending December Council of Ministers meeting due on 18 and 19 December, it is important that this House give time to debating the issues at hand. I have had some significant briefings today from the FIF, more specifically from the Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation, on the issues. It is worth reiterating some of the points they make.

They state that the decisions taken at the December Council meeting will be vital to the future of the industry. I note the Minister of State said he supports the appropriate conservation measures for Celtic Sea cod such as spawning area closures which were originally proposed by fishermen and are delivering positive effects on stock levels in that area. The organisation's position is such that it proposes that the creation of a sub-divided management area separating the English Channel from the rest of the existing Celtic Sea, has certain implications for Ireland. The organisation's briefing paper states:

The separation of Area VIId, the English Channel, from the remainder of Area VIIb-k for the purposes of management, and the establishment of a separate Total Allowable Catch for that area has significant implications for the Irish fishing industry.

While the measure is not objectionable in itself, the subdivision of the stock must not disadvantage Irish fishermen by directly dividing the quotas, giving Ireland quota in an area (VIId) where Irish fishermen do not fish.

Irish fishermen catch most of the Cod in the west of the existing management area, to the south of Ireland. This must be reflected in the new subdivision of quota between the management areas.

I could not have put the argument any better.

With regard to the proposals on the fishing effort, there is a school of thought that suggests that the European Commission is effectively re-writing, after the fact, the decision reached by the Council. The FIF state that the Commission is re-writing the text of the decision on fishing effort in the Irish Sea and the north west which was reached at last month's EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. This cannot be allowed as it would mean an immediate 25% cut in fishing possibilities in 2009, from what was in the decision which was in itself misguided, draconian and punitive. The November Council of Fisheries Ministers reached a decision on a new and intensified series of measures for fisheries in the Irish Sea and the north west. I also understand that the Irish Government and industry succeeded in thwarting the efforts to have this approach extended to the south and west coasts. The FIF has stated this to me today. The measure agreed which affect the Irish Sea and north west, clearly curtailed fishing effort in the form of kilowatt-days to the amount of effort in previous base years. It has only come to light in recent days that the Commission is going significantly beyond what was agreed and it now proposes in 2009 to impose a further 25% cut from the base effort. This is contrary to all understanding of what was agreed. I understand the Minister may share this position but he needs to put it on the record of the House at some stage.

I note the Minister of State's statement on the Hague Preferences, that they are an integral part of the TAC, total allowable catch and quota allocations system and they must continue to be allocated or formally incorporated into the TAC and quota system and not perhaps subjected to the annual approval which they must undergo. I understand the point made by the Minister of State when he states that certain member states would seek to denigrate or downgrade that agreement. The position adopted by the FIF in continuing to ensure that the Hague issues are maintained, is paramount to the industry in the future. More recently there has been positive interplay between the fishermen's organisations and the Minister. The emergency package agreed in July, however, needs to be expedited. It is a matter of grave importance to the industry.

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