Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Tá cuid mhaith iascairí, beaga agus móra, ar fud na tíre atá ag strachailt leis an tionscal i láthair na huaire agus tá cainteanna tábhachtacha le bheith ar siúl sa Bhruiséal maidir le tionscal na hiascaireachta. Bhéadh sé go maith dá bhféadfaimís an t-Aire atá ag plé leis seo a fháil isteach sa Teach chomh luath agus is féidir san ath-bhliain, le plé a dhéanamh ar na socraithe atá déanta maidir leis an tionscal seo.

I call for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who is visiting Brussels to hear what Commissioner Maria Damanaki has to say about the development of the European fisheries industry.

It is a crucial time for our fishermen. The quota system has been very unfair to them over the years. I wish the Minister well in negotiations on an increased quota. We need a better deal than we got previously. We met delegations from fishermen's organisations in committee meetings and they voiced their concerns about the way the quota system operates and their concerns about the privatisation of quotas, from sovereign quota to an individualised quota that people can buy and trade. Fish production, landing at fishing ports and having it produced and added value, which could create jobs, are other issues. The Minister is fighting his corner on this issue. I would welcome a debate on the fisheries industry with the Minister as soon as possible in the new year.