Results 11,901-11,920 of 13,214 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Common Fisheries Policy was a bad deal. I was never happy with it and, as Minister of State, there is no point in my saying it was a good deal. I am not criticising those who negotiated it. Our party was involved. The then coalition was in Government on 1 January 1983. I am not criticising anybody for that because Members from all parties——

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's party signed it.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I emphasise that I am not being critical but the parties involved in the negotiations at that time did not foresee the subsequent developments that would take place in our fishing industry. At that time we had very much an inshore fleet. The industry, particularly the pelagic and demersal segments, has made substantial investment over the years in terms of the purchase of larger, more modern...

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: New fishing effort levels were established for western waters following intensive negotiations during 2003 and 2004. The new regime established fishing effort levels for whitefish, scallop and crab fisheries based on the actual levels of fishing effort exerted by the various fleets over the five-year period 1998 to 2002. The implementation of the new western waters regime also involved the...

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Irish Naval Service monitors fishing activities of foreign fishing vessels as part of normal patrol missions. The Naval Service can board vessels at sea and inspect fishing gear used by vessels according to methods and criteria established and prescribed by EU fisheries legislation so vessels comply with requirements and minimum mesh sizes. Vessels are also boarded at sea and the catch...

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: This is a separate question. I will examine this in detail and if it will be detrimental to——

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I will try to establish if this is the case. We signed up to the Common Fisheries Policy in January 1993, which was reviewed recently. We are obliged to comply with EU regulation. Perhaps this is a matter over which I can exercise some control and if not I will highlight it with the EU Commission.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Common Fisheries Policy was comprehensively reviewed in 2002. One of its key outcomes was a greater emphasis on fisheries control. The reformed Common Fisheries Policy contains a specific chapter dealing with control and sets a variety of requirements that all member states must implement to ensure that fisheries resources are adequately protected. While I understand the potential...

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I respectfully suggest to the Deputy that perhaps at some time in the future he visit a number of ports in the country — I can arrange that — and establish for himself what precisely happens when fish are landed. As I stated in reply to Deputy Perry, fishermen must advise in advance that they are landing. They have their log sheets and the sea fisheries officers can inspect them, whether...

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am entitled to reply and defend the system and the sea fishery officers who do their work. We have those systems in places. As a result of the recent review of the Common Fisheries Policy, we have these responsibilities and we are taking them seriously. I am a great believer in, and the one person who realises the importance of, managing quotas now that the landings are restricted so that...

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I cannot be held responsible——

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I cannot be held responsible for the Common Fisheries Policy, which does not provide for individual quotas for a period for each vessel.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: We have that in Ireland. I advocated change.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I have done that on numerous occasions.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Action speaks louder than words. We have built quotas into our system, as far as is practicable, but that has not been adopted by all member states. The system pursued in Ireland is not corrupt.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I will try to impress this on colleagues at every opportunity. However, I must be realistic. The Common Fisheries Policy was reviewed in 2003 and it is not possible to make this change. I have no difficulty raising it because, as the custodian of the resource, I have an obligation to future generations. If the Deputy was fully familiar with this issue, he would know the Irish and UK fishing...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (14 Dec 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the National Development Plan 2000-06, Dundalk Port Company was approved for grant aid at a rate of 40% up to a maximum of €1.2 million for the development of the port's infrastructure. A letter of offer issued to the company on 23 July 2003. The company received estimates of €4.5 million to €7 million for the dredging element of the project. The company could not finance such...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Dec 2005)

Pat Gallagher: In the exercise of the powers conferred on me, as Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, by section 55A, inserted by section 22(1) of the Fisheries Act 1999, of the Fisheries Act 1980, I included 34 organisations in the National Salmon Commission (Prescribed Bodies and Organisation) Order 2005, S.I. 626 of 2005, which I signed on 28 September...

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (14 Dec 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I will take this debate on behalf of the Minister. The Deputy asks if the Minister still intends to proceed with the Corrib gas pipeline. The Minister is not developing the Corrib project. Shell E&P Ireland is developing the project on behalf of the project partners. Whether or not the project proceeds is primarily a matter for Shell. The Minister has worked tirelessly to address the concerns...

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (14 Dec 2005)

Pat Gallagher: There is more to be said on this matter and the time for that is when the final report of the consultants has been received. In the meantime I hope the Deputy will give serious consideration to the detail in the draft report and provide considered responses rather than alarmist and inaccurate "off the cuff" remarks. The report merits time and study, and I commend it to Deputies and other...