Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding future reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; the consultation he has had with stakeholders in this regard; the main challenges that have been brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18860/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union which was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every 10 years, the most recent was in 2002 and the next is formally scheduled for 2012.

On 21 April 2009 The European Commission published a Green Paper on the latest reform of the CFP in order to launch a consultation with Member States and stakeholders and to initiate a broad public debate on the future CFP reform. A summary of this consultation process will be published in 2010. It will be followed by a legislative proposal to the Council and the European Parliament to be adopted in 2011, with a view to its entering into force in 2012. It is clear that every aspect of the CFP is up for review and will require detailed attention.

An exchange of views on the Green Paper will be held at the next Agriculture and Fisheries Council on the 25-26 May 2009.

The CFP review has been on the agenda at a number of formal and informal meetings with industry, most recently at the Sea Fisheries Consultative Council meeting on the 7th May. The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has indicated their intention to pursue a process to develop its position in the matter and I await the result of its deliberations. My Department will of course be engaging in a parallel process of consultations with all stakeholders including the FIF to inform Ireland's position on the review.