Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he will take in the preparation for a possible referendum on the Lisbon treaty to ensure that a more pro-active stance on behalf of the fishing industry with the relevant EU institutions is taken to achieve significant reforms in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43887/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In practical terms, the Reform Treaty will not alter the arrangements that currently apply in the fisheries sector to any great extent, other than applying the principle of co-decision in certain areas for the first time. Fisheries are now included in the Articles on the Common Agricultural Policy and references to the Common Agricultural Policy will be deemed to include fisheries. The Reform Treaty introduces the principle of qualified majority voting to certain new areas but the principle of qualified majority voting is already enshrined in the fisheries sector for some considerable time. While there will be some alterations to the thresholds for reaching a qualified majority under the new arrangements, these alterations will not have significant implications for decision-making. The reality is that most decisions on fisheries are arrived at by consensus.

The Treaty will provide a greater degree of democracy in the decision-making process. The European Parliament will have a greater say in future EU legislation on fisheries, with the exception of a small number of dossiers related to fixing of Total Allowable Catches and quotas. Our own Oireachtas also will have an enhanced role under the Lisbon Treaty along with the national Parliaments of the other Member States and these changes apply equally to the fisheries sector. National parliaments will have a longer period of time to scrutinise proposals. They will also have the power to object to a draft proposal on the grounds that it breaches the principle of subsidiarity.

However, in relation to fisheries, a significant exception will be the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities, which will be dealt with by the Council of Ministers on a proposal from the European Commission, as is the current process. Total Allowable Catches 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 of scientific evidence on the state of each stock, the respective management measures in place, and the catches taken during the year. These proposals are the subject of extensive negotiations at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council each December.

I will continue to work closely with stakeholders and will pursue a strong line in defence of Ireland's interests at fisheries negotiations, as have my predecessors.