Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a formal submission to the EU Commission on proposals as contained in the Green Paper published earlier in 2009 on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; if so, if he will publicise this submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47980/09]

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. I welcome the Commission's Green Paper on the reform of the CFP and acknowledge the importance of the process we are embarking on, as it will culminate in the shaping of the strategic blueprint for the European fishing industry for the next decade.

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. An exchange of views on the Green Paper took place at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on the 25th May 2009. A further informal discussion was engaged in at the recent November Agriculture and Fisheries Council so this is very much an ongoing process.

Back in May, Minister Killeen appointed Dr. Noel Cawley to oversee consultations with Irish stakeholders on the reform of the CFP. Advertisements were placed in national and relevant fishing newspapers seeking submissions from interested parties for review by Dr. Cawley. Minister Killeen, Dr. Cawley and my Department have been involved in a series of consultations with various fishing organisations around the country over the last few months in an effort to formulate Ireland's national position.

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) have pursued its own process to develop its position on the matter, and the result of their deliberations will also feed into Dr. Cawley's work programme and the formulation of Ireland's position. All of the submissions received by Dr. Noel Cawley are now being evaluated in order to compile a detailed and informed submission to the EU Commission very early in the New Year. This submission to the European Commission will be published on the Department website for information once it has been finalised and agreed. Under the planned EU timetable for the review, a summary of the 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.