Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleagues for being so magnanimous. I also welcome the Minister of State and express my sincere thanks and gratitude to him for the successful outcome of the negotiations in Brussels. It is an annual event and when our Ministers go they carrt the goodwill of the fishing industry, the Federation of Irish Fishermen and all those living in coastal communities. In this instance, the Minister of State did himself and the fishing industry proud. He mentioned various measures such as the increase of 15% in haddock and whiting quotas which is very good news for the south west, as Castletownbere is the largest whitefish port in the country. He also mentioned the prawn quota which until recent years was a non-quota species. Although a substantial reduction was suggested by the Commission, he secured a 3% reduction. He succeeded in obtaining a 10% increase in the mackerel quota, which is important because it is a valuable asset. He also succeeded in obtaining a substantial bore fish which must be recognised. He has, therefore, has done extremely well.

The fishing industry is a natural indigenous industry which can act as a catalyst in the creation of jobs. As the Minister of State is well aware, I have an issue with the divvying out of the mackerel quota throughout the country. He has inherited a cumbersome and most inequitable system, whereby 87% of the mackerel quota is allocated to fishermen in the north west, primarily in the general area of County Donegal, with the remainder, 13%, being allocated to fishermen in the southern half of the country, from Galway along the coastline of counties Kerry and Cork and on to County Wexford and up to County Dublin. The undertones are not great. I have spoken to the Minister of State about this issue and know he is seriously examining the various sections.

I know section F was abolished in recent weeks, but there are anomalies. A father and son in Castletownbere both have trawlers and are dedicated pelagic fishermen. One of them will be entitled to an increase of 160 tonnes, while the other will be entitled to 36 tonnes if the figure of 10% is divided fairly north and south. The big crib of mackerel vessels - I stress this predates the term of office of the Minister of State and his predecessor - is that in 1999, in the famous section F, four dedicated pelagic vessels had a quota of 1,000 tonnes of mackerel. Because of their dedication, prior to the latest increase, they built this quota to a figure of approximately 7,500 tonnes which will probably rise further. When whitefish vessels were being renewed and substantial grants were available, they were told they were not entitled to receive any grants. However, they stuck to their guns, went out and caught fish.

A most important point is that these vessels were always aligned to onshore processing facilities. Until five or six years ago, we had 13 pelagic fish processing factories throughout the country. Now, there are four - one in Rossaveal, one in Dingle and two in west Cork in Castletownbere and Baltimore. Processing mackerel and herring onshore adds value. It is unfair and unpatriotic that more than 75% of mackerel is landed in either Scotland or Norway because the bigger vessels can travel that distance. It is admitted that they receive an extra amount per tonne, which is important if one has a quota. However, in landing our mackerel raw in Scotland and primarily in Norway onshore jobs are created there. I utter a word of caution because if we do not protect the factories in Rossaveal, Dingle, Baltimore and Castletownbere, they will eventually close because they need a continuity of supply. The four vessels I mentioned, with other smaller vessels, because of the famous and perhaps now redundant section F, landed fish on a weekly and monthly basis to ensure continuity of supply and processing in the factories.

If the Minister of State had his wish, he would tear up the mackerel quota system and start afresh on a new playing field. He may not be able to do so. I do not want to hark back to those who went before him, but approximately seven or eight years ago the four boats mentioned had a mackerel quota of between 900 tonnes and 1,200 tonnes each. Other boat owners had no interest whatsoever in it. These four vessels now have quotas of less than 400 tonnes. In other words, despite the increase, their quotas have been reduced by one third, which is regrettable. Their argument is that to be viable, they need a quota of approximately 800 tonnes per vessel. That would be less than what they had seven or eight years ago, but they need such a quota to be financially viable to keep their boats, pay insurance and make repayments.

I am aware of boats that are mortgaged to the hilt. Many of those involved in the industry are in serious trouble. I know we have our issues with the banks, but recently I spoke to two fishermen who told me that they were grateful to the banks in west Cork which were doing their utmost to provide interest only loans and trying to sustain them through this very difficult period. There was a notion in the 1970s and 1980s - it might have been true then - that fishermen were multimillionaires who were doing extremely well. I know very few such fishermen now. Those who are fishing - I speak in particular for those in west Cork and County Kerry in the south west - are fighting for survival and working extremely hard in a difficult climate to try to make a living.

I have a view on the Cawley report and the issue of decommissioning which I know is foremost in the mind of the Minister of State and subject to finance being available in the kitty. I am aware of a number of smaller vessels in the 15 m to 18 m category, perhaps mainly in the Minister of State's territory of County Wexford, west Cork and County Kerry, some of which are 35, 40 or 45 years old. The notion of spending €30,000, €40,000 or €50,000 doing up these vessels probably makes economic sense. The Cawley proposal was to decommission a particular number of vessels and the first tranche of decommissioning was reasonably successful. There is a niche here the Minister of State might look at, subject to finance being available, and I am sure he will fight this cause. I am aware of at least half a dozen of these smaller vessels in my area of west Cork and I am sure there are more that fish out of Dunmore East and places like Rossaveel and Kilmore Quay. The sensible thing for the industry would be to decommission some of these vessels. For instance, I am aware of a family that is not allowed take its vessel to sea because it has not got its certificate of compliance. The family is not in a position financially to borrow the money to do the work required. The vessel is old and one would wonder whether it would make economic sense to refurbish it, even if the family could borrow the money. I know of another man who told me he had started the work and had spent €20,000 on his vessel to comply with the Marine Survey Office, but unfortunately the banks would not give him the extra €15,000 he needed to complete the work. He is caught in a bind. The work is half done because he thought there was a future in the industry and he wanted to invest in it. Will the Minister of State touch on this issue in his response? Perhaps he may not be able to respond today, but I ask him to take on board my views in this regard.

I have been looking for a debate on the fishing industry for the past 18 months and would like to raise another issue now that I have the floor. This issue concerns the small number of fishermen who fish for crayfish. These are expensive fish and most of them are exported live to Spain. Currently, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA , requires that landed crayfish must be a minimum of 110 mm measured across the back. The minimum in Europe is 95 mm. I have been told that if the same rule applied here, that would create extra jobs and allow fishermen retain more of the fish they catch. Currently, they must throw back fish less than 110 mm and cannot land or export them. One small operator with a 36 ft. vessel told me he was boarded four times last year and checked and scrutinised to ensure he had no illegal fish. I am concerned we do not have a level playing field in this area and it would be important to deal with this.

By their nature, fishermen are slow to credit the Minister of State for the work he has done in Europe in recent days. I have never attended the negotiations but I have no doubt it is a Russian roulette type of situation trying to carve out the best deal possible for Irish fishermen. The overall increase in quota of 2.5% for whitefish is exceptionally good in these difficult times. The Minister of State has to balance the scientific data - on which I compliment the Marine Institute in Galway - and the ever-growing lobbying by Europe to curtail fishing. There is an element, including among elected Members, that would love to put the handbrake on the fishing industry. The Minister of State, in working with the scientific data, for example, the closing of the Celtic Sea for herring, has proved that the herring stock has recovered. This is good and it is vital this is sustained.

We can always look at the negatives and I have touched on some of those, especially the situation with regard to mackerel. It is ludicrous how the mackerel quota is allocated. I have also mentioned decommissioning and cray fishing and could mention several other areas. However, I compliment the Government on tabling this motion and the Minister of State on what he has done. I am sure my colleagues on the other side of the House will point out the deficits in this area, of which there are some, as I, who grew up in a coastal area, know better than most. I know the hardships encountered by those living off the sea. I am prepared to listen to my colleagues and will take the opportunity to wrap up on this issue at the end of the debate.