Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has raised, with the EU Commission, concerns regarding the cod recovery plan in the Irish Sea and the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25953/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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On 12 June, Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, who has responsibility for Fisheries, wrote to the Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg setting out changes he is seeking to the provisions of the Council Regulation for Total Allowable Catches and quotas for 2009 (Council Regulation 43/2009) in respect of the Cod Recovery Plan in the Irish Sea and in the North West and the new requirements for restrictions on cod, haddock and whiting catches in the north west. The changes sought were on the basis of discussions held with fishing industry representatives. In particular, Minister of State, Deputy Killeen asked for changes that would maximize the available fishing effort for the Irish fleet by allowing Ireland to choose the reference years used to establish the effort for each individual fishery. Minister of State, Deputy Killeen also asked for a number of practical changes to the rules that would help alleviate the impacts on the fleet particularly in the North West and in the Irish Sea.

On the 23 June 2009, Minister of State, Deputy Killeen held a bilateral meeting with Fisheries Commissioner Borg to press for the changes set out in his letter of 12 June. Commissioner Borg advised that he understood the challenges faced by the Irish fishing industry and that they would carefully examine the case both from a legal and conservation perspective.

Minister of State, Deputy Killeen regularly meets fishing industry representatives and fishermen and every effort is made to alleviate the impact of the Cod Recovery Plan in as far as it is practicable and within the legal framework.