Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ba bhreá liom fáilte a chur roimh an bhFeisire agus mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis as ucht an méid a bhí le rá aige. Is mór an pribhléid é éisteacht leis, ní amháin maidir lena chuid eolais ach lena chuid saineolais. Labhair sé faoi na cnámha spáirne is mó atá ann. Is cinnte go bhfuil go leor cnámh spáirne i gceist agus muid ag caint faoi chúrsaí iascaireachta.

Will Mr. Gallagher expand on his comments that I found interesting? I also have a question that may not be relevant to his role as an MEP but on which he might have a view. With regard to the issue of overfishing, he referred to Ireland and the Faroe Islands. When the islands were mentioned, I thought they were part of Denmark and different rules would apply. According to Wikipedia, although I might be on the wrong track, the Faroes are under the Danish crown and are subject to Danish governance, including on military and police matters. Is their fishing industry not subject to the EU's purview? I presume the countries being discussed in this context of overfishing are not subject to oversight at EU level. Is that the source of the problem, in particular, as it affects Ireland? Mr. Gallagher mentioned the difficulties of getting to grips with the issue, in particular at the world trade talks. How will that play out? What are the limiting factors in the World Trade Organisation talks on dealing with this issue fully and effectively?

Mr. Gallagher commented on the Hague preferences and mentioned in passing that while all the countries signed up to them, we have to expend political capital to secure consideration for our needs as a small country whose fishing fleet was underdeveloped when we entered the large European partnership at considerable cost to our potential to fish our waters the way a country with our coastline might have expected. He said France, Germany and Belgium strongly oppose the extension of the preferences to Ireland on an ongoing basis and he would like them entrenched on a long-term footing. He also said significant new factors were at play. Can he elaborate on them? I acknowledge he has comprehensively covered the issue.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has commented on the discards issue a number of times in the past few months. It is one of those issues in Irish life where the people close to the issue have one perspective and those who are not, such as those who are concerned about environmental protection and who have a natural and justified abhorrence of waste and not just celebrity chefs, feel uneasy about discards. Mr. Gallagher rightly approaches the issue with great practicality and emphasis on the importance of people's needs and jobs and protecting our communities and livelihoods. What can be done to square the circle to bring those two points of view together? I grew up with values such as live simply so that others may simply live. The notion that there can be such waste within a process leaves many decent people feeling uncomfortable but I fully acknowledge that those whose livelihoods depend on an in-depth knowledge of the issues take a different view. What can be done in the area of education to promote greater public understanding of the issue and the need to take a gradualist approach to solving the problem? Mr. Gallagher referred to the subsidisation of fleets and equipment in order that the problem can be minimised.

I was very taken by what the Mr. Gallagher had to say about his own initiative around the 6A area and how it is an example of way we can move away from outdated fishing restrictions that do not do justice. He mentioned that small vessels were having to go further out to sea with implications for health and safety. Am I correct in saying that about 90% of the fleet is skipper-owner family-run single boats? He mentioned that this is the type of matter that should be dealt with, if not at member state level then at a more localised level, and he mentioned Ireland, the United Kingdom and France in this regard. To play the devil's advocate, is such regionalisation something that can always work or is there a danger from the point of view of the wider community good that member states that may have a particular vested interest may not take the decisions that have regard to all the issues, whether environmental protection or protection of stocks or whatever? Mr. Gallagher mentioned that administrative sanctions were a more appropriate way of dealing with minor offences rather than criminalising certain issues. Is he speaking about fines?

I am not sure if my next question is within Mr. Gallagher's remit but I will mention it. It relates to the issue of inshore matters. Bord Iascaigh Mhara has issued statements around the potential damage of sea lice and say that it is of more than a little significance. I wonder whether sufficient analysis is being done on the possible effects on inland fisheries. Inland Fisheries Ireland has raised concerns about the environmental impact statements, suggesting they are inadequate or flawed. I am conscious that new jobs as outlined in Bord Iascaigh Mhara reports are vital and can never be underestimated but I ask whether sufficient analysis has been carried out on the potential damage to fish stock and subsequent loss of revenue to the fresh water industry. Does this matter have any relevance at European Union level? Is there any way in which this impacts on Mr. Gallagher's role and can he shed light on the issue or does the European Union have a competence in this area that might influence this ongoing controversy?