Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the operational programme for fisheries has been rejected by EU Commissioners due largely to his failure to implement a variety of EU directives; his proposals to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18786/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries for Ireland has not been rejected by the Commission. As part of the normal consultative process for approval, the Commission adopts a negotiating position where it sets out how the OP should be improved and completed to meet the Commission's quality requirement for the programme. The Commission Negotiating position was received on the 22nd of April 2008, officials from my Department met the Commission (DG Mare, DG Regio and DG Environment) on 24 April as part of the formal process in the consideration of Ireland's Fisheries Operational Programme 2007 — 2013.

The OP submitted to the Commission envisages the use of EU funds under the Fisheries Fund to support decommissioning of fishing vessels, aquaculture development and environmental/inshore fisheries support. The total EU aid available under the Fisheries Fund for the period is €42m. My officials are engaging fully with the Commission to address the issues raised, including in relation to EU Directives on the Environment, with a view to agreeing the OP as early as possible.