Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has had recent discussions with the Irish Fishermen's Organisation in relation to proposed decommissioning of fishing boats; if he has accepted the proposals put forward by the IFO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14811/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Fishermen's Organisation has submitted a proposal for a decommissioning scheme for fishing boats targeting bivalve molluscs which I have examined. However, taking all matters into account including the funding available to me, my priority is to address the current imbalance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities in key fisheries subject to restrictive quotas such as monkfish, hake and cod. Accordingly, I announced last week a new grant aid scheme to remove excess capacity from the whitefish sector of the fleet.