Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy can read my reply later but I will answer him directly because I would like to get a strong message across to this sector. I am conscious there is huge frustration in Donegal and in the north west generally about this fishery, which extends to the Aran Islands. There is frustration because the Celtic Sea fishery has been profitable and progressive in recent years with strong quotas and so on. We had a robust and difficult conversation about the north west fishery last month. The science has changed and the advice is that the basis for the setting of quota or, in the case of the north west herring fishery, the non-quota, for the past number of years, is flawed in terms of understanding the two herring stocks off the north of Scotland and the south of Ireland and how they interact with each other.

We have agreed with the Commission that we will determine what quota is allocated on the basis of a new estimate of our understanding of how the two stocks interact with each other and allowing time to produce a more accurate assessment. I have insisted that the southern stock will get at least 30% of whatever is allocated. Last year, the northern or Scottish quota was 20,000 tonnes and, therefore, it has gone from that to zero. We have stayed at zero but I hope we will have a figure in February. It will be much less than 20,000 tonnes but we will insist on a fair share of that. I promise the Deputy that when we do, the inshore fishing fleet will get a fair share of whatever we secure to ensure we have an inshore fishing option for small boats off the north west coast right down to the Aran Islands to catch herring. Everybody knows that I have made it clear to the big boys and the small boys that this is what I want to do. We will have a good news story for the inshore fishing fleet towards the end of February when we will have a number. I will make a commitment and even if I am gone from this office, I hope it will be followed up. This will be a new option for the inshore fleet in the north west. It needs new options and this is a great opportunity for something positive for the fishermen.

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