Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Tá an fhírinne searbh. We must look at the root cause and that is when it started. We will leave the matter aside.

Senator Coghlan referred to allegations. The Government took a decision on 10 or 11 October and investigations are being carried out. Nobody should draw any conclusions until the investigation is completed. Everybody is innocent until proven guilty. I am measured in what I say because to comment further would be totally improper.

A number of Members from this House attended the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources yesterday. Officials from my Department gave a detailed overview of the Commission's proposals. It is proposed to increase a number of quotas, and to keep others static. Unfortunately, it has also been proposed to reduce 15 quotas, two of which are written in stone. These are mackerel, because of the relationship with Norway and the straddling stock, and blue whiting. We will negotiate the others at official level over the coming weeks, at Council level on 20 December when we have bilateral talks with the Commission and Presidency, and in Council on 21 and 22 December. We will endeavour to secure increases in quotas because it is important for us, for the country and for coastal regions where there is no alternative source of employment. There is an obligation to create jobs and I do not take any credit for that. Any Irish Minister would work closely with the industry and officials. We have consulted the industry and will do so again prior to the Council meeting and will take on board their many concerns.

I have just returned today with Department officials from my second meeting with Commissioner Borg from Malta. I had a bilateral meeting with him and he possibly understands our concerns and difficulties in advance of the Council meeting.

A good barometer of the Government's record is the allocation of funding. In 2005 we are allocating over €95 million for a range of marine areas, such as fishery harbours, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, coastal protection and marine research which is also important. That is more than double the 1997 budget, the year we assumed office when the budget was €40 million. Sustainability of fish stocks is the main challenge facing the fishing industry and the Government is tackling the issue head on in partnership with the industry. Since my appointment I have said I want to work in partnership with all stakeholders. In addition to funding levels, this partnership approach is vital. For example, during Ireland's EU Presidency we focused on delivering two key aspects of the new Common Fisheries Policy. I would like in that context to refer to the regional advisory councils which I supported when a member of the European Parliament through the European fisheries committee. While such councils are only advisory, I am convinced, having spoken with Commissioner Borg today, that those representing us on the Fisheries Council will bring a great deal of experience to the table — a view which I held prior to that conversation. I am also convinced the Commission will take their views into consideration and, hopefully, will take them on board.

During Ireland's Presidency, we got EU agreement to fast tracking the development of environmentally friendly fishing methods, a long-time priority of the industry. Long before my appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I recognised and appreciated the industry's views on environmentally friendly fishing methods and technical conservation measures, issues which were on the agenda in Ireland and the UK at a very early stage. Some progress has been made in that area. The fishing industry realises it is pointless landing small fish which are then being discarded, something which these new methods hopes to address.

Ireland has been active in regard to the days-at-sea regime. While we opposed a days-at-sea regime when first featured in 2002, there was no point in standing on the sidelines shouting "No" because wet could not decide our destiny. We cannot dine À la carte in Europe. Instead, we took the practical approach and negotiated changes with the full knowledge of the industry. Prawn fishery is the most important fishery in the Irish Sea and we successfully convinced the Commission that that fishery can continue without any significant days-at-sea impact. Senator McHugh referred to non-cod fisheries off the north-west coast. We succeeded last year in securing changes that greatly help fishermen targeting other species. On the Celtic Sea, the Commission has also accepted our view that other measures such as spawning area closures can recover that cod stock.

The situation regarding the whitefish fleet has changed for the better in recent years. Total investment of €123 million involving the payment of €30 million in grant aid to 151 vessels has delivered a modern whitefish fleet that can, for the first time ever, compete on a truly international scale. We also succeeded in unblocking the cap on funding at my first Council meeting, a large percentage of which, if not all, has been paid by BIM.

The programme for Government proposes the setting of a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of our fishing industry. We have already successfully negotiated a new Common Fisheries Policy. Of course we would like to believe we could have changed things but there are 24 other member states to consider. If we could decide our own destiny things would be different. In that regard, reference was made to Norway. I am envious of Norway's ability to decide its own destiny, something which Ireland cannot do but on which we continue to negotiate in the best interests of all aspects of the industry.

Progress has also been made on the implementation of a new licensing scheme for the inshore sector. Many inshore vessels have been unable to avail of grant aid but it is hoped that, as a result of that success, those boats will be licensed by March next year and we will work closely with BIM on such matters. It will be necessary for inshore vessels to comply with the code of practice but the marine survey office, my officials and BIM are working on this matter as we speak. It is hoped we will be able to assist them when purchasing equipment.

A major policy statement was launched in July setting out particular plans for the whitefish sector. On licensing delays, we have taken significant steps, not least of which the reform contained in the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, which established an independent fishing vessel licensing authority with an independent appeals mechanism. The licensing authority found it necessary last year to suspend the processing of licensing applications pending the completion of a new transparent EU fleet management policy and the consequent introduction of a new national licensing policy. I am informed that applications are now being dealt with speedily provided all the necessary information required has been submitted. The vast majority of applications were issued with a letter of licence within a short period.

On harbour development, the National Development Plan 2000-2006 provides for €85 million for capital investment in fishery harbours infrastructure. By end June next year, long before the national development plan expires, we will have spent almost €95 million in some 100 different locations around the coast. We will have provided 75% of funding to local authorities for many harbours in their areas. These statistics speak for themselves. Reference was made to various harbours and to Killybegs in particular. I overheard a remark by Senator McHugh on Killybegs. Consultants were appointed to and reported on Killybegs. However, that was before the Senator's time. That report lay on the then Minister's desk for 12 to 18 months and never saw the light of day until the change of Government in 1997 when Deputy Woods became Minister. One of his first acts as Minister was to travel to Killybegs to unveil that plan for which the Government provided £80 million.