Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether Ireland's influence in negotiations on the Common Fisheries Policy will be increased by a "Yes" vote in the Lisbon treaty. [31767/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Successive Irish Governments have pursued a policy of proactive engagement with the European Union. This approach has yielded excellent dividends for Ireland over the last three and a half decades. Indeed, since 1973 we have received €61 billion from the EU budget, while contributing just €19.5 billion to that budget, a net benefit to Ireland of more than €40 billion. We continue to this day to be net recipients from the EU budget.

Over the years, we have been active in developing coalitions with other member states around issues on which we have particular concerns, including fisheries and agriculture. With regard to the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, a yes vote will, I believe, enable us to negotiate on behalf of the Irish fishing industry in the coming years from a position of strength.

It is important to recall that Irish landings of fish have more than doubled since 1973 (from 85,700 tonnes in 1973 to 185,000 tonnes in 2007) and that the size of the Irish fishing fleet has increased from 1,800 boats in 1997 to more than 1,950 in 2008. During this same period, the size of other fishing fleets across the EU shrank by 20%. Between 2000 and 2006, the EU also provided direct assistance to the Irish fishing industry amounting to €65.5 million. A further €42.5 million is being provided by the EU between 2007 and 2013.

It is well understood that the evolution of the Common Fisheries Policy will be vital to the maintenance of sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities. For that reason, it is incumbent on us now to do everything in our power to maintain our position as an influential EU member state with a capacity to shape future EU decisions in a direction favourable to our interests. While the Lisbon Treaty will not significantly affect the operation of the common fisheries policy, it is my firm view that a yes vote on 2 October will enable us to exert maximum influence over the future evolution of this vital policy.

In addition to negotiations on fisheries, several other major issues will come to a head in the coming period, including the future of the Common Agricultural Policy and the shape of the EU budget beyond 2013. In this context, it is vital that we preserve our position at the heart of the EU from which we can secure optimal outcomes for Ireland. A positive result on 2 October will be crucial in that regard.

Question No. 28 answered with Question No. 24.