Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

On the specific issue raised by Deputy Ferris, a mechanism is in place which allows trading of quotas between countries. It is a swapping system under which my Department may negotiate and discuss with other countries the option of swapping quota for different species. While the current system facilitates these types of swaps, it does not allow countries which do not use their full whitefish quota to sell or transfer it to another country. France has the biggest whitefish quota in Irish waters and it is certainly not true to say it is not using up to 50% of that quota. My understanding is it is using practically all of its quota, this year at least. There may be individual species for which it has not filled its quota. It often seeks to swap quota and acquire by return quota for other species. I understand the Deputy's point but it is very unlikely that as quota becomes more valuable fishing fleets will not use theirs in full in the future.

The other issues concerning the Common Fisheries Policy relate to discards. I strongly support in principle what the Commissioner is trying to do in that regard although I believe her approach is flawed in that boats would be forced to land all fish caught, from 2014 to 2016, on a phased basis. The Irish approach and policy to discards will be clear. It will take fish on a stock by stock or species by species basis, looking for technical solutions. First, we will want to reduce the catch of fish currently being discarded and we need to do that proactively. In addition, we will look at ways in which we can eliminate discards entirely when and where that is possible. We must do that with the industry. Otherwise we will drive the issue underground - or underwater as would be the case.

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