John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which total allowable catch and quota arrangements were introduced by the European Union in relation to boar fish; the percentage of the total allowable catch and the quota allocation for Ireland negotiated during the 2010 December EU Fisheries Council meeting; the quota allocation for 2012; the proposals he has to secure additional allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57413/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Boarfish has in recent years become the target of commercial fishing by the Irish fishing fleet. The December 2010 Council of Fisheries Ministers introduced the first Boarfish quota for the 2011 fishing year, where Ireland secured a quota of 22,000t. At the December 2011 Fisheries Council I negotiated a significantly increased quota of 56,666t for the 2012, which included a redistribution of an “All Member States” quota, this gives Ireland 69% of the total EU catch.

Negotiations for the 2013 TAC are ongoing at the moment however this will be one of the most difficult Fisheries Council’sin years.There are considerable challenges posed by the range of issues before us at this year’s Council and I will be working hard to deliver on TACs that respect scientific advice, reduce the unacceptable practice of discarding fish at sea and are set on a rational basis.

It is essential to the future sustainability of our domestic fishing industry that we obtain a fair and positive outcome to these discussions from Ireland’s perspective. This is particularly important given Ireland’s imminent presidency of the EU and our strong desire to advance the wider Common Fisheries Policy reform agenda during that time. It is essential therefore that the industry and other stakeholders are fully aware of the huge challenges faced at this Council and of the range of difficulties faced in getting a satisfactory outcome for Ireland in the coming days.