David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action he will take regarding short term financial support to fishermen in advance of the next Council of Ministers meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25590/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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At the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week EU Fisheries Commissioner Borg, undertook to come back to the next Council meeting on the 15th July with definitive proposals to address the issues facing fishermen.

However, I will continue to use every avenue open to me, as will Minister Killeen to convey in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on the situation facing them at present. We will continue to press for a package of EU-funded measures to address the current difficulties experienced by fishermen across Europe, particularly in Ireland.

I was heartened by the support I received from my fellow Ministers at Council and am also pleased with the progress made in a number of areas of concern to Irish fishermen. I believe the meeting was positive as regards the restructuring of the industry and action to combat illegal fishing. I welcome the agreement reached at Council on a new regulation to combat landings of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish from within and outside the EU.