Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 622: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide relief to fishermen here in view of the crisis exacerbated by rising fuel costs and the fact that other EU states have provided such aid to their fishermen. [23665/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The escalation of fuel costs, as a result of global economic and political conditions, remains a matter of concern for all sectors of industry. I believe that many of the current issues facing our fishermen, including that of increasing fuel prices, must be dealt with in the European context.

In that regard and following a detailed, constructive nine hour meeting with the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) last Friday, Minister of State Killeen and myself will be meeting EU Commissioner Borg on Wednesday 18th, where we will convey in the strongest terms the depth of feeling of Irish Fishermen, and the seriousness of the situation facing them. I will be taking this opportunity to ask the Commissioner to bring forward a new EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the immediate issues of concern to the Irish fishing industry.

I will also be pursuing the matter strongly at the Fisheries Council and as I have said, I believe that an effective resolution to many of the issues particularly the impact of rising fuel prices can only be achieved in an EU context. I intend to press the Commission, with the support of my colleagues in the Council, to bring forward actions to address both the short-term and longer-term situations and will impress upon the Commissioner and my Fisheries Ministerial colleagues that in any package of EU aid, the priority that needs to be attached to the Irish fish fleet.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 623: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on the measures he is taking to address the crisis in the fishing industry, namely restrictive quotas and a major price increase in fuel; if he will further report on his recent meeting with representatives of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23670/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister Killeen and myself had an exhaustive, detailed and constructive nine hour meeting with the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) last Friday 13th June. The meeting focused on both long-term and short-term issues of concern to the industry.

As a follow on to that meeting we are scheduled to meet EU Commissioner Borg on Wednesday 18th, where we will convey in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish Fishermen and the seriousness of the situation facing them. I will be taking this opportunity to ask the Commissioner to bring forward a new EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the immediate issues of concern to the Irish fishing industry.

I will be pursuing the matter strongly at the Fisheries Council on the 23rd June. I believe that an effective resolution to many of the issues facing the industry including the impact of rising fuel prices can only be achieved in an EU context. I intend to press the Commission, with the support of my colleagues in the Council, to bring forward actions to address both the short-term and longer-term situations and will impress upon the Commissioner and my Fisheries Ministerial colleagues that in any package of EU aid, the priority that needs to be attached to the Irish fish fleet.

In relation to quotas, I can confirm that BIM will shortly complete the assessment of applications made under the €42m decommissioning programme announced in February to remove a large number of older trawlers from the whitefish fleet in line with the Government's Cawley Seafood Development Strategy. The object of the Decommissioning Scheme is to remove part of the older fleet targeting the available quotas so as to ensure larger quota shares and better profitability for the newer more competitive trawler fleet. The initial offers under this scheme will be made later this month.