Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

There are issues also around the Hague preferences if the Deputy wishes to ask me questions on that. We are anxious to protect what are called the Hague preferences which give this country preferential treatment on quota allocation when quotas fall below a certain level. If one is catching white fish such as monkfish, whiting or haddock if the quotas fall below a certain level there is recognition in the Hague preferences that to keep a coastal fishery intact one must have certain economies of scale; otherwise the fishery becomes unworkable. That is where the Hague preferences kick in and allow this country to get an increased percentage of quota when the overall quota falls below a certain level. We are very protective of the Hague preferences.

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