Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has approved Ireland's submission to the EU Commission, regarding the reform of the common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3703/10]

Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when Ireland's submission, regarding the reform of the common fisheries policy, will be submitted to the EU Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3702/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 171 together.

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 ten years, the most recent in 2002 and the next is formally scheduled for 2012.

I welcome the Commissions 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.

In May, the Minister of State, Deputy 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.

All of the submissions received by Dr. Noel Cawley have now been evaluated in order to compile a detailed and informed submission to the EU Commission. Dr. Cawley is currently in the process of finalising the wording of this document with Minister Killeen and aims to submit a final version to Minister Killeen for approval and onward transmission to the EU Commission within the next fortnight.