Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The detail is very important in this regard. I am fighting the battle all the time at European level to try to maximise our fish quotas. I will be in Brussels on Sunday and Monday, once again fighting the battle regarding our national fish quota. We were also fighting that at the last Council meeting. Ireland was the only EU member state to vote against the proposal. I voted against it because I disagreed with it. I will fight that battle at every opportunity to do the best we can for our fishermen and to try to maximise our quota. That has been my form at every opportunity since I was appointed as the Minister.

The facts and the figures are important. It is important that there is clarity in this regard if we are fighting that battle. The scientists at the Marine Institute are the people who keep these figures. I have outlined to the Deputy today, as I have on many occasions before, what the figures are, namely, 35.5%, by weight, and 38.8%, by value, of the landings from the Irish EEZ. That amounts to two thirds of our total catch, because the other one third is caught in British waters. That is the factual position as established by the authorities that monitor this aspect and that do the fullest and best possible assessment of the reality.

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