Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the negotiations between the EU and Iceland on the ongoing dispute in relation to mackerel quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43487/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Negotiations between the Coastal States (EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faeroes) on sharing arrangements for the North East Atlantic Mackerel stock are due to commence next week in London (23-25 October). As the Deputy will be aware there is currently no agreement on sharing and for the past number of years both Iceland and the Faeroes have been engaged in irresponsible and unsustainable unilateral fishing of the mackerel stock.

I have consistently argued that any possible deal must be balanced and fair and that Iceland and the Faeroes must not be rewarded for their irresponsible behaviour. Mackerel is Ireland’s most important fishery and jobs in our peripheral coastal communities in the North West and the South West are strongly dependent on this fishery.

For this reason I have placed this issue on the agenda of the Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting due to be held this coming Thursday, in advance of the Coastal States negotiations next week. At that meeting, I will be seeking information from the Commission (who negotiate on behalf of the EU at the Coastal States meetings) on the current state of play in the negotiations, details on the Commissions’ discussion with Norway, a key partner for the EU on this issue, and confirmation that the Commission are prepared to consider an approach to the negotiations that would protect Ireland’s interests and at the same time go some way to meeting the legitimate expectations of Iceland and the Faeroes.