Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the consultation he has had with stakeholder groups with regard to the European Commission's Green Paper on future reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; the issues he will pursue at the next Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20268/09]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, is the fisheries policy of the European Union. It was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every ten years, the most recent in 2002. The next review is formally scheduled for 2012. On 21 April 2009, the European Commission published a Green Paper on future reform of the CFP in order to launch a consultation with member states and stakeholders and to initiate a broad public debate on future CFP reform. A summary of this consultation process will be published in 2010. It will be followed by a legislative proposal to the Council and the European Parliament to be adopted in 2011, with a view to its entering into force in 2012. It is clear that every aspect of the CFP is up for review and will require detailed attention.

An exchange of views on the Green Paper will take place at the next Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 25 May 2009. The Green paper identifies five structural failings of the current policy, namely, fleet over-capacity, imprecise policy objectives, a decision-making system that is focused on the short term, a framework that does not give sufficient responsibility to industry, and a culture of poor compliance. It goes on to focus on improving the management of EU fisheries, and issues such as supporting coastal communities, relative stability and marketing are raised. Other areas covered include aquaculture, financial support and externalities. I welcome the Commission's Green Paper on the reform of the CFP and acknowledge the importance of the process we are embarking on, which will culminate in the shaping of the strategic blueprint for the European fishing industry for the next decade.

In the current economic climate, we need a policy that simplifies and reduces the administrative burden and, at the same time, strengthens and supports the industry's capacity to maximise employment in coastal communities dependent on fishing. This will be a key objective for Ireland. We will pursue initiatives that deliver and sustain jobs in coastal communities rather than those that promote the concentration of wealth and delivery of excessive profits for a small number of large international businesses. The Minister, Deputy Smith, has already outlined these priorities for Ireland at last month's Agriculture and Fisheries Council and he intends to address them in greater details at next week's Council on 25 May.

It is critical that we have a broad and in-depth review of the policy that takes account of the views of all interested stakeholders. The CFP review has been on the agenda at several formal and informal meetings with industry, most recently at the Sea Fisheries Consultative Council meeting on 7 May. The Federation of Irish Fishermen, FIF, has indicated its intention to pursue a process to develop its position in the matter and I await the result of its deliberations. I intend to engage in a parallel process of consultations with all stakeholders, including the FIF, to inform Ireland's position on the review.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In the context of the discussion document on the Common Fisheries Policy, has the Minister of State discussed at Commission level the desirability of uniform sanctions for breaches of the policy? Does he support the idea of Community support for policing Community waters so that Irish fishermen do not feel disproportionately discriminated against in respect of the meagre resources of the State to police substantial tranches of Community waters?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The point the Deputy raises is a matter which is being addressed in parallel by the Commission. He is aware of the proposals that have come forward in that regard to ensure a level playing field, elements of which we discussed at a committee meeting. We regard some of these elements quite positively while we have a somewhat negative view of others.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State support uniformity?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The question of uniformity in regard to the application of sanctions, as well as the question of resources, are issues we will continue to raise at European level, as we have done thus far.