Question 108: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the outcome of the December 2008 EU Fisheries Council. [4924/09]

Question 131: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will quantify the value of the increased quota secured at the December 2008 EU Fisheries Council. [4925/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 131 together.

The package of measures agreed at the December 2008 EU Fisheries Council were in my opinion the best possible deal available to Ireland in what were very challenging circumstances.

The main elements of the package include an increase of 5% in the value of quotas available to Ireland from €194m to €200m and the successful defence of the Hague Preferences against determined opposition from some Member States.

The EU Commission's proposals for complete closure of all whitefish fisheries in the waters off Donegal were successfully renegotiated and agreement was reached on a package of measures which both delivers strong conservation measures for the cod, whiting and haddock stocks in decline while facilitating the continuation of important fishing activities for the Irish fleet in the area. In addition, the Council established effort limits under the EU Cod Recovery Plan Regulation (Council 1342/2008) for the Irish Sea and for the waters off Donegal. I appreciate that the introduction of these new conservation measures are a challenge and I have established a Steering Group involving the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), the Department and agencies to provide support to the industry in relation to the practical implementation of these new measures.