Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State may recall that in the previous Oireachtas the producer organisations and the inshore fishing representatives presented to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Their presentations were stark but one of the game-changers was the map I am holding, which clearly defines the exclusive economic zones. Essentially, what is marked in red on the map are British fishing waters or British territory as they would see it which, like our own exclusive economic zone, are subject to the Common Fisheries Policy.

The warning signs were clear when Britain withdrew from the London Fisheries Convention a number of years ago on the grounds that its waters were to be used as a negotiating tactic in the trade negotiations. The convention was signed in 1964. After 1973, when the UK joined the EU, it secured a 26% increase in the allocation under what is called "relative stability" to reflect the development of the exclusive economic zones in 1976. It was an increase of 26% above that of, and taken from, everybody else. The Hague Preferences must also be considered in this regard. There have been a number of initiatives to deal with UK concerns over the years under the Common Fisheries Policy.

There is great concern. No sector is more threatened by the negotiations than fisheries. It is important that our Government works closely with other European governments. There are encouraging signs that this is happening. Access to British territorial fishing waters is built into the trade negotiations and is seen to be necessary if the desired goal is to be achieved but the Government should be cognisant of the serious concerns of the producer organisations and aware of the European Fisheries Alliance that represents 18,000 fishermen and 3,500 vessels from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. The annual turnover of the sector is €20.7 billion. Its representatives have come together to collectively ask the governments to hold their ground and defend the interests of our fishing communities.

If the British do not negotiate a fair deal, we will need to re-examine the Common Fisheries Policy. A total of 38% of the catch of the Irish fleet is taken from British waters. If this is lost, we will need to revisit the policy. I hope it will not come to that. I appeal to our Government to do everything it can to hold the line for our fishing communities.

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