Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the initiatives planned to promote the indigenous fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19649/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Steering a New Course — strategy for a restructured, sustainable and profitable Irish seafood industry 2007-13, was approved by the Irish Government on 10 January 2007 and launched by the Taoiseach on 28 January as the blueprint for developing the fishing sector into the future. The plan envisages an Irish Seafood Industry that is sustainable, profitable, competitive and market-focused, making the maximum long-term economic and social contribution to coastal communities and Ireland as a whole. In order to ensure that the Irish seafood industry delivers on this vision, the Cawley report makes a series of recommendations which are focused on addressing critical issues impacting on the industry's development. These recommendations, are grouped under ten core themes. Associated with each of the development themes is a 'key priority', which defines the overall objective for each of the core themes. These include:

Market Development

Invest further in market research and intelligence.

Focus marketing support in a targeted fashion on key export markets in addition to the domestic market.

Establish a 'Seafood Island' identify for Irish seafood

Adopt a structured approach to providing services for commercially focused R&D/NPD more effectively through BIM's Seafood Development Centre.

Invest in identifying the potential usage of fish and marine biodiversity in functional foods.

Prioritise support for businesses with good potential.

Encourage investment in seafood processing from the wider food processing sector.

Introduce measures to improve competitiveness.

Co-ordinate State support to the processing sector.

Extend and develop the current Whitefish Fleet Decommissioning Programme .

Further investigate the need for a targeted decommissioning scheme for vessels less than 18m in length.

Review entry-exit regime for all fleet segments.

Implement a new and devolved fisheries management regime and Establish an industry-based legal entity to oversee quota management.

Update fisheries management objectives and fleet management policies.

Enhance institutional support for inshore fisheries.

Implement more effective and co-ordinated arrangements for first point-of-sale for seafood.

Proactively support cost reduction and performance improvement and Enhance onboard technologies.

Increase awareness and response to environmental policies.

Promote local area management strategies and the Coastal Zone Management approach.

Promote the introduction of Environmental Management Systems.

The Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) has been established to oversee the implementation of the strategy recommendations in a coordinated and cohesive manner. Chaired by Dr. Noel Cawley, and consisting of representatives from the various sectors of the industry, the Department and relevant State Agencies, the SSIG has been tasked with driving, supporting, and monitoring the delivery of the plan in addition to reporting to me on the progress of the implementation of the plan.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the issues raised by the EU Commission in recent correspondence regarding the operational programme for fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19605/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission submitted their observations on Ireland's Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries via a "Negotiation Position" document received on the 22nd of April 2008. This is a normal part of the consultative process for approval of O.P's. The issues raised by the Commission were mainly procedural and/or editorial in nature. Disappointment was expressed at the exclusion of measures under the Axis 4 pillar of the European Fisheries Fund "sustainable development of fisheries areas".

At a meeting between the Commission and officials of my Department on the 24 April, acknowledgement was given to our commitment for implementing these measures through state aided funds as outlined in the National Strategic Plan for Fisheries 2007-2013. Nonetheless, the Commission continued to press for its inclusion under the operational programme. The Commission also expressed concerns in relation to Ireland's implementation of certain EU Directives on the Environment in the context of providing EU funding under the OP for aquaculture development. My officials are fully engaged with the Commission with a view to bringing the consultation process to a successful conclusion and getting the O.P approved as soon as possible.