Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he will introduce to ensure that Irish fishermen are not placed at a competitive disadvantage to their counterparts in other member states by the introduction of state aid packages for the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25993/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The current discussions at EU level on the high cost of fuel are essentially about short-term emergency measures. However, any long-term solution to the current difficulties will have to include measures to rectify the fundamental rebalancing of the fleet capacity with the stock resources available, taking into account the operational costs involved for fishing vessel owners. Grant aid totalling €41.1 million to decommission 46 fishing vessels under the 2008 fishing vessel decommissioning scheme has been announced. Approved applicants have until 18 July to accept the offer and, if they do so, they must surrender fishing licences by 12 September 2008.

This represents a substantial commitment from the Government, bringing the Irish fishing fleet into balance with available resources and ensuring those remaining in the industry can be assured of a profitable future. The removal of older, less efficient vessels will increase the quotas available to the more modern competitive fishing vessels and to smaller vessels and will contribute to achieving a more sustainable and profitable fleet. The scheme delivers on a key recommendation of the strategy for a restructured, sustainable and profitable seafood industry 2007 to 2013, Steering a New Course, also known as the Cawley report.

The Commission's discussion paper for short-term aid for the industry was the subject of detailed consideration at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 June. The options being considered for such short-term aid carry strict criteria which include linkages to more fundamental fleet management measures. Operating aid for fishing vessels is not permitted under EU state aid rules and any such measures introduced by EU member states would be in breach of EU law and subject to infringement proceedings in the European Court of Justice. The Commission is intent on preserving a level playing field and reiterated this in its discussion paper at the Council meeting. The paper states that there is an impending need to act in order to avert a severe crisis for the EU fishing industry. The response must be EU wide and co-ordinated in order to avoid distorting competition between member states or fleets.

At the Council meeting, and in line with the Commission's stated policy, we pushed Commissioner Borg to bring forward a new EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the immediate issues of concern to the Irish fishing industry. We believe that an effective resolution to many of the issues facing the industry, including the impact of rising fuel prices and quotas, can only be achieved in an EU context.

The Commission has consistently held the view that the main challenge for the EU fishing industry has been, and still is, the structural imbalance between fleet capacity and resources in many fisheries. It firmly holds the view, with which I agree, that while the current crisis was triggered by high fuel prices, there are many other factors impacting negatively on the industry.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

These include illegal, unreported and unregistered, IUU, fishing activity and imports in the Union. In this regard, I am pleased that the Council took strong action and new measures to combat IUU fishing, estimated at €1.1 billion of illegal imports into the Union annually, were agreed and will commence at the beginning of 2010. I have also asked the Commission to bring forward urgently initiatives on research and innovation to find ways to develop more fuel-efficient engines and fishing practices.

As it is clear that high fuel prices will remain, it is imperative, more than ever, to attack the root of the structural problems of the sector. We have put a significant element of the solution to this in place and are delivering on it through the whitefish decommissioning scheme.

I was pleased with the short-term measures offered by several member states and with the response of the Commissioner Borg, who has undertaken to revert to the next Council meeting on 15 July with definitive proposals to address the issues facing fishermen.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I was hoping the Minister, Deputy Smith, would answer my question.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I invite the Deputy to put a supplementary question.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister spoke of decommissioning the fleet, which has nothing whatsoever to do with my question. I wish to know what short-term suggestions and measures Commissioner Borg proposed. At a meeting yesterday in Athlone, which I attended, the fishermen were militant. They did not discuss decommissioning or the Cawley report, which takes a long-term view of ways to maintain a profitable fishing industry. The fishermen talked about what can be done for them in the next few weeks so that they will not go out of business. These people are in dire financial need. Having examined the matter, I believe the only option is tie-ups and I hope the Minister has discussed the possibility of this measure with Commissioner Borg. I believe this is the only immediate, short-term measure which can save the fishing industry in Ireland.

The Minister in his reply suggested that the introduction of state aid packages was illegal, or that Governments should not adopt such a policy. However, governments are doing this at present. The Spanish Government, as Deputy Penrose said, will do whatever it must in order to save the Spanish fishing industry. It may be illegal but it depends on the way the Spanish Government structures aid and provides it for Spanish fishermen. What short-term measures have been put to Commissioner Borg to save the fleet, before decommissioning and the recommendations of the Cawley report are rolled out? What short-term measures have been proposed to keep fishermen on the water?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have met the fishermen and I know their concerns. I have also heard these concerns from colleagues in the Oireachtas. Several issues were put to Commissioner Borg both in the meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, and I and at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. We made progress on the IUU regulation, which I mentioned earlier in answer to a question from Deputy Penrose. We also strongly made the case that the least people should expect in an industry is a level playing field in the regulation of catches which are taken illegally from our waters and so on.

We also strongly made the case for a marketing initiative to promote the purchase of good, wholesome, nutritious fish from European waters.

There is a significant amount of illegal dumping into Union waters, which is the a cause of serious problems for European fishermen. We are concerned about our fishermen.

Another matter we put to the Commissioner, which is an issue high on the fishermen's agenda, is the matter of cod in the Celtic Sea. We have asked for increased quotas and catch from that sea. The marine institutes of Britain, France and Ireland put forward detailed scientific information to show that the stocking levels have improved. The Commission receives its own scientific data and it was due yesterday on the last day of June. We asked the Commissioner to revert to us as quickly as possible to see if an increase in catch could be allocated. At the meeting Commissioner Borg was non-committal on the subject. We pressed him very strongly in view of the available scientific data from the marine institutes of the three countries. All agreed the stock levels had improved. We have asked that those scientific submissions be given detailed consideration and that a decision is made. The Commission has produced a paper. We have asked for immediate financial aid from the European Union and we have outlined that very clearly. There is a Common Fisheries Policy and a European response is needed. Practically everybody at the Council of Ministers who had an interest in fisheries was pushing the same line, that initiatives are needed directly from the Commission.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I come back to the immediate nature of the needs of the fishing industry. The Minister spoke earlier about how other countries have different quota laws and it is very difficult for the Naval Service to regulate when boarding ships. The Minister also spoke of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, or IUU, and regulations to combat it coming in by 2010. I am talking about immediate measures.

I will suggest one such measure. We must receive EU funding but I have been told by fishermen that French and Spanish boats are working on diesel priced at 50 cent per litre, whereas Irish boats are working on diesel priced at 91 cent per litre. It seems the governments in question have implemented this measure on behalf of their fishermen.

An immediate measure which could be taken to help the fishermen and their fleet in this country is to consider harbour dues. This would be of direct benefit to the fishermen and could be looked at immediately as an instant help.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know the differential in fuel price between countries but there is a specific measure in this country to assist fishermen with the cost of fuel. At the Council of Ministers meeting, as well as bilateral meetings, we put a range of proposals to the Commissioner for consideration. He took the views of all the different member states and he had to return to the college of Commissioners.

We pushed him very hard, outlining in particular that we get a very small share of the European fisheries fund. Above all countries, we deserve a special EU-funded package because of the very small allocation we have received over the years and that we would get, as currently structured, between now and 2013. We put the point to the Commissioner very forcefully, itemising particular areas where we thought funding could be put to very good use to deal with the immediate problems that affect the industry throughout the country.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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What about harbour dues?