Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I do not agree with the motion but I thank Senator McHugh for tabling it because it gives us all an opportunity to debate the various issues. It also gives me an opportunity to defend the Government's position not just for the sake of it, but on the basis of fact.

It is ironic that Fine Gael spokespersons and Senators are not prepared to look back at the core of the problem. I am not critical of those who negotiated the Common Fisheries Policy because at that time no one foresaw the development which would take place subsequently. It is a great credit to the industry, both producers and processors. At that time, we had an inland, inshore fleet. Those prepared to make investments were the people who had confidence at all times. The Government of the time, and after 1987, was prepared to make investments, and major investments have been made since then. A Fine Gael Minister signed off on the Common Fisheries Policy in 1983. That is the core problem. We were locked into quota and TAC monitoring. The total allowable catch was generally accepted as 4.6%. I do not want to be political about the issue.