Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the latest position with regard to discussions with scallop fishermen in County Wexford regarding their protests at new EU quota rules; the efforts he has made to reach a settlement with the fishermen; the reason he rejected a package offered by the fishermen on 1 June 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19889/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question refers to new EU quota rules as being the basis for recent protests by scallop fishermen. There are, however, no quotas on scallops, in contrast to other key whitefish species. The issue on scallops concerns the management of fishing effort, the framework for which was agreed at EU level in 2003 with the support of the Irish fishing industry.

The need to establish a better balance between fleet size and available fishing entitlements is not confined to the scallops' fleet. The difficulties in the whitefish fleet are in fact of longer standing and accordingly there is a particular concentration on that fleet where quotas have been severely cut in recent years.

For that reason, I introduced a decommissioning scheme for whitefish vessels in April. When I met the scallop fishermen in early June, I explained this policy context and the necessity to concentrate the available funding of €8.8 million on the whitefish sector. The whitefish sector has indicated its view that substantial additional funding will, however, be required for that fleet alone.

While the problems in the whitefish sector are of longer standing, I accept that issues exist also in the shellfish sector, including scallops. It has therefore been decided to undertake an immediate and urgent review of the decommissioning requirement for the various demersal and shellfish fleets.

This review is to be completed by end June and will give an important overall perspective. It will examine the various issues involved including eligibility for decommissioning aid.

I cannot pre-empt the outcome of this review. It is a planned and structured approach and I look forward to receiving the report.