Results 11,941-11,960 of 13,264 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The report to which the Deputy refers, which was published on 8 December 2005, was not discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in December. The EU has a fisheries agreement with the Republic of Guinea, but Irish fishing vessels do not fish under this agreement. While I have no direct knowledge of the situation in Guinea, I would be very concerned about activities as described in...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The fishing vessel decommissioning scheme was launched on 4 October 2005. The deadline for receipt of applications for the scheme was 1 November 2005. Following the first phase of the approvals process, letters of offer issued to those applicants who met the mandatory eligibility criteria, in line with EU rules and who opted to decommission their vessels in the first round in late November...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Central Fisheries Board is undertaking a review of coarse fish policy in Ireland with a view to advising me, as Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, on developing an informed national policy for the management, development and protection of this important natural resource. I understand from the chief executive officer of the board that the review group expects to complete...

Written Answers — Marina Development: Marina Development (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Officials in my Department are at present examining the issue of marina development at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre. It is hoped to reach a decision on how best such a facility can be developed in the near future. My officials are focused on a solution that will provide enhanced leisure facilities for the local community, berthage for visiting pleasure craft and subsequently additional...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Government has decided that a fundamental restructuring of the inland fisheries sector would result in a better model for the State's role in the sector, better resource management, more and better involvement of stakeholders, better corporate governance and value for money. The existing fishery catchment areas, which are based on river systems, however, will be unaffected by the proposed...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the conservation, protection, management and development of the inland fisheries resource rests with the central and regional fisheries boards. The central and regional fisheries boards devote considerable effort and resources to the promotion of angling and, in collaboration with the tourist authorities, to angling tourism. The Deputy will...

Seanad: Electricity Generation. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Ulick Burke for raising this issue. He asked at the outset for clarification on the position with regard to the Minister and I will do that. First, I will clarify for the House where actual responsibilities lie as regards access by wind farmers to the electricity, distribution and transmission systems. In accordance with Part V of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, on access...

Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I do not have a history of changing parties.

Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy has changed parties five times.

Fisheries Protection. (25 Jan 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Common Fisheries Policy was reviewed in 2002 and this led to a new basic regulation that will govern EU fisheries policy until the early part of the next decade. It is not realistic, therefore, to expect a further reform process in the interim. The 2002 reform embraced all the key areas such as access to resources, conservation, control and enforcement, structures and fleet policy....

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...