Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil an t-Uasal Ó Gallchóir anseo inniu. Tá sé tábhachtach dúinn éisteacht leis de bharr an obair atá ar siúl aige san Eoraip i dtaca leis an cheist fíor thábhachtach seo - cúrsaí iascaireachta - chan amháin don tír seo ach don Eoraip go ginearálta. Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil sé anseo ar maidin.

Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil sé gnóthach agus go raibh air teacht ón Eoraip le bheith anseo, ach tá lúcháir orainn go bhfuil sé anseo chun plé a dhéanamh ar an ábhar seo.

I welcome Mr. Gallagher, MEP. We are discussing an important topic. I agree with him that it is often left to one side at a national level even though it is worth so much to our economy, given the 12,000 people working in the seafood sector and the considerable amount of money involved. This morning, Dr. Alyne Delaney from a university in Denmark made a presentation to the Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries. Dr. Stephen Hynes of NUI Galway also made a presentation on our ocean wealth capacity. Dr. Delaney discussed many of the subjects that Mr. Gallagher touched on, particularly that of the need to provide opportunities for small coastal areas in terms of regionalisation by showing flexibility in policies. Regardless of whether policies stem from member states' Departments or the EU, they tend not to involve appraisals of socioeconomic activity in a sector. A decision can be taken and will have a number of knock-on effects economically, for example, on employment. The review of the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, is important and a great deal of work has been done.

We are in a new phase and the European Parliament's weight is equal to that of the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. Some of the European Parliament's proposals are beneficial. The trilogue benefits the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, and CFP proposals. Mr. Gallagher is leading this work on behalf of Ireland.

I am glad that Mr. Gallagher raised the issue of mackerel. He has often discussed and championed it. The Commission must deal with the matter. When the Commission appeared before our committee approximately 12 months ago, this was one of the issues raised. The significant exploitation of mackerel fisheries in the north Atlantic is not being dealt with adequately. Should we ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, to raise this matter with the Commissioner? Mr. Gallagher is doing everything in his capacity at European Parliament level. Perhaps we should press further.

Mr. Gallagher worked in the fisheries sector before he entered politics and has more expertise in it than I do. We come from the same area of the Gaeltacht in west County Donegal. This topic is important to the sector's future. The decisions taken now will impact on livelihoods in the years ahead.

Mr. Gallagher mentioned the transferable fishing concessions, TFCs. Had it not been for the input of the European Parliament, we would have had a disaster on our hands. The Commission proposed mandatory TFCs, under which multinational corporations could take over fishing opportunities in various member states. The Council proposed voluntary TFCs, which would not have worked. Thankfully, the European Parliament has guaranteed that the proposal going before the Council in May or June - I hope that it will be done before the end of the Irish Presidency - will result in the removal of TFCs. This is welcome. In the documentation prepared by the Oireachtas agriculture committee, of which Senator Comiskey and I are members, although I do not know whether other members are present, we acknowledged the work of the European Parliament in this regard.

Mr. Gallagher touched on the contentious issue of discards. He was right, in that there will never be zero discards. One is referring to the landing of dead fish. We want to move towards a minimal level of discards. From the European Parliament's point of view, Mr. Gallagher might outline where this process will end. Will a phased approach be taken and are the Commission and the Council considering the issue pragmatically?

On the issue of the maximum sustainable yield, the sustainability of fishing yields is always a contentious issue. In Ireland, certain fishing opportunities were closed down based on scientific advice. Scientists' advice will feed into whatever decision is made, but how will this provision be delivered on the ground and will it be phased in over a period? Mention has been made of its introduction in 2015. Is that likely?

Mr. Gallagher has done a great deal of work in terms of regionalisation. The Council and the European Parliament have made alternative proposals - the latter has proposed that member states be regionalised, following which a decision would be made. Will vessels of different member states fishing in the same waters and governed by different government policies create a conflict? Does the European Parliament believe that this could work effectively?

In Ireland, 80% of the fishing fleet is composed of boats smaller than 15 m. Often, they are based in island communities or small coastal areas. What measures could be introduced to protect such areas? Mr. Gallagher mentioned mixed stock fishing within a 12-mile zone and the reopening of area 6A. What flexibility can be provided to small vessels or can regulatory mechanisms be put in place under the CFP to distinguish between vessels on the basis of size?

It is apt that various Members of the European Parliament have been appearing before the Seanad. Today's discussion is important, as it allows Senators to raise questions that Mr. Gallagher can pass on to a higher level in Europe in the important upcoming eight to ten weeks. The two main reforms with which the Irish Presidency is dealing relate to the CAP and the CFP. If both can be put to bed by the end of June, it will be a significant achievement for the Irish Presidency. That our Minister chairs the Council of Ministers means that we have more control over the final outcome. The Minister is on record as being hopeful that the deal on the CFP will be completed by the end of June. Mr. Gallagher has signalled that it will be completed at the Council meeting in May, which would be welcome.

I am unsure as to whether I wish to raise anything else. We are restricted in terms of time, but I congratulate Mr. Gallagher on his work in Strasbourg regarding the CFP. He represents the interests of Irish fishermen, not just in the north west but also in the south. Different regions face different issues. My colleague, Senator O'Donovan, would have liked to have been present. Unfortunately, he cannot be. We often argue over the herring distribution quota, in which respect the boats in the south might have been better looked after than the boats in the north. I remember arguing this point with the Minister and Senator O'Donovan would probably have raised it today. The Senator sends his apologies.

I thank Mr. Gallagher for attending. I tried to telephone him earlier but it shows how busy he is that his telephone was turned off and his mail box was full.

That gives an indication of how busy is Mr. Gallagher, MEP, and the amount of travelling he is doing. I know he was under pressure to get over here today as the European Parliament was meeting late last night. Céad míle fáilte aige and we look forward to working with him. If there is anything we can do in the agriculture committee to supplement the work to be done in Europe on the issue, we would be only be too delighted to do it. Deputy Andrew Doyle from Wicklow is the excellent Chairman of the committee, and he is most accommodating, which was reflected this morning when he sat through two hours of discussions based predominantly on small island communities; we all know there are no islands off the Wicklow coast and there is very little fishing activity. The Chairman is a farmer by trade but sat through the two-hour meeting. If we can supplement the European work, it should be made known to us today.