Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the introduction of additional quota for the fishing industry or a tie up scheme for fishermen similar to the set aside scheme for farmers where boats could be tied up on a rota basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24335/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for the majority of commercial fish stocks in European waters are proposed by the Commission each year for the following year, taking account, inter alia, of the scientific evidence on the state of each stock and the respective management measures in place. These proposals are the subject of extensive negotiations at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council each December. The TACs and quotas for 2008 were set at the December 2007 Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

The distribution of quota is a matter for the national administrations, and in Ireland this is managed in conjunction with the industry. I am happy to look at any proposals from industry on revised allocations of quotas. In relation to the question of a tie up scheme for fishermen, and while not pre-empting any decision of today's Council, I am pressing hard for an EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the immediate issues of concern to the Irish fishing industry.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the introduction of a Government investment scheme for fuel efficiency measures for boats in the fishing industry or a reduction in the duty on fuel for fishing vessels; his further views on other fiscal measures in conjunction with the Department of Finance for the fishing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24336/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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BIM have to date implemented and promoted the "Environmentally Friendly Fishing Gear and Fuel Monitoring Equipment Grant Aid Scheme". This scheme provided grants of up to 40% to improve efficiency and conservation methods on board fishing vessels. These measures will, on adoption of the new Operational Programme for Fisheries 2007-2013, continue to be supported by the new European Fisheries Fund (EFF). Furthermore, it is planned that the new scheme will allow for grant aid to replace old engines with new more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient ones, which was not available in the past.

We need to be clear that fuel subsidies, in terms of operating aid for fishing vessels, are not permitted under EU State Aid rules and any such measures introduced by EU Member States would be in breach of EU law and subject to Infringement proceedings in the European Court of Justice. In relation to funding of short term measures to address the current difficulties facing the fishing Industry, it has always been my contention, that this is a European wide issue and must be dealt with in the European context. I have already held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Borg on this and will be pursuing the matter strongly at the Fisheries Council and I believe that an effective resolution to many of the issue 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 an EU funded package to address both the short-term and longer-term issues facing the fishing industry.

I announced on Monday, grant aid totalling €41.1 million to decommission 46 fishing vessels under the 2008 fishing vessel decommissioning scheme. Approved applicants have until 18th July 2008 to accept the offer and if they do so must have surrendered their fishing licences by the 12th September 2008. This represents a very substantial commitment from the Government in bringing the Irish fishing fleet into balance with available resources and ensuring that those remaining in the industry can be assured of a profitable future. The removal of these older less efficient vessels will increase the quotas available to the more modern competitive fishing vessels and to smaller vessels, and will contribute to achieving a more sustainable and profitable fleet. The scheme delivers on a key recommendation of the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Seafood Industry 2007 to 2013 — Steering a New Course (the Cawley Report).

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the standards and monitoring processes for the importation of fish into Ireland; the level of compliance with these regulations each year since 2004 to date in 2008; if he will review in tandem with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and the National Consumer Agency, the pricing level of fish in the retail sector here [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the price paid at source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24337/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 29th April 2004 sets out the official controls to be performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules. The general obligations with regard to the organisation of official controls shall ensure that official controls are carried out regularly, on a risk basis and with appropriate frequency so as to achieve the objectives of EU Regulation 882/2004.

All animals and products of animal origin, entering the EU from a Third Country must enter through a Border Inspection Post (BIP) and must be subjected to checks. There is free circulation of food within the EU which means that food produced in the EU under EU food safety legislation can move freely throughout other member states without going through import checks except in the cases where some specific national controls apply for food safety reasons. BIPs are under the control of an Official Veterinarian (OV), who is responsible for the checks. The OV may be assisted in these duties by specially trained auxiliary Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food staff and Officers from the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute for fish and fishery products.

Border Inspection Posts must be approved by the European Commission. The posts are inspected regularly by officials of the European Commission to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the EU directive. The following are the approved inspection posts in Ireland, Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, and Shannon Airport. The deputy will no doubt be aware that on foot of specific issues raised by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) at our meeting on the 13th June, I established the Irish Seafood Market Initiative under the Chair of Jason Whooley CEO of BIM, to discuss and identify and maximize the opportunities for domestic seafood supply to the Irish Seafood market.