John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I also ask the Minister to respond.

It is welcome that we are debating these issues in the House. It is important that the Minister put the gloves on when he travels to Brussels in December. Many decisions are made on the margins. I will not state they are made through wheeling and dealing but through dialogue and discussion with countries also concerned about huge cuts in quotas and the effect they will have on fishermen. I am sure the Minister will argue the case for Ireland. He has stated many of the proposals made are not acceptable, which is a good start.

I compliment the Minister on raising the discards issue which has been highlighted in recent months in a number of radio and television programmes which featured discussions on how they could be eliminated. It is welcome that the Minister launched the discards atlas. While I know he will encounter some opposition in the European Union, it is good that the Department and the Government are leading the charge in this area. I hope the Minister will be successful.

I wish the Minister all the best in the discussions in Brussels in December and hope he will be ato achieve a satisfactory outcome for fishermen who have suffered greatly in recent years. They are very important in coastal communities. We are aware of the numbers of jobs in companies which operate in Castletownbere, Kilmore Quay, Donegal, Dingle and other locations and know of the commitment of fishermen to the economy. There are still tremendous opportunities to further develop the fishing industry by adding value to products, many of which are being exported without value being added. This is of concern and needs to be examined. In the programme for Government the Minister committed to the development of certain areas in the sector.

With regard to aquaculture, there is a serious lack of product throughout the European Union. There is, therefore, a tremendous opportunity to develop the aquaculture industry. How will the Minister deal with the licensing of existing aquaculture companies and possible new ones in 2012? What progress is he making on this issue?

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