Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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531. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the needs of the fishing industry with particular reference to traditional sea fishing families dependent on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6867/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I consider that the fishing industry itself is best placed to advise me on their needs. It is for this reason that the representative producer organisations in the industry, both fishermen and onshore processors, meet each month with my Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to make recommendations to me in relation to the quota to be allocated in the coming month for whitefish and some pelagic fisheries.

For non TAC and quota species, management measures applying only to Irish registered vessels fishing within our territorial waters are developed nationally. In the development of such national management measures, I always seek and fully consider any submissions from industry representatives.

New opportunities for the direct involvement of the fishing industry are also a central part of the new CFP Reform which, for the first time, introduces a regionalised approach to fisheries management. We have moved away from the old system of an EU decision making approach centralised in Brussels. The new policy puts fishermen at the core of developing conservation measures for fisheries in which they are involved and also makes specific references to taking account of the needs of our fishermen.

In a practical step in the implementation of this new regionalised approach, I have also hosted the first meeting of the North Western Waters Regional Group of Member States. It is through this group which will work in close association with stakeholders that decisions affecting Ireland's fishermen may be taken in the future and it is vital that we are at the heart of this new decision making process.

The recently established national Discards Implementation Group will ensure that the Irish fishing industry are fully prepared for, and engaged in, the implementation of the discards ban. It will empower fishermen by giving them a key role in the decision making for their fisheries. The work of this group will be central to ensuring that the practical issues around the introduction of a discards ban, as identified by the Irish fishing industry, will be developed into long term sustainable management tools that will safeguard the future of our coastal fishing communities.

From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to ensure that fish stocks would be protected for future generations. I strongly believe that the new CFP will achieve that goal.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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532. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which jobs continue to be created in the fishing industry with particular reference to the processing sector and added value of various fish and fish products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6868/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that there are approximately 11,000 people employed in the seafood industry, of which almost 5,000 are employed in the catching sector and close to 3,000 in the processing sector. Employment growth in recent years has occurred mostly in the processing sector. Over the past three years, the seafood processing sector has performed strongly in creating jobs and generating exports. There has been good investment by the sector in developing facilities, growing sales and increasing the value added of seafood output. This effort has been supported under the Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme for an approved investment programme of €35 million in that period. There were 354 jobs created in seafood processing associated with the ongoing investment in the sector. This investment is yielding dividends with Irish seafood exports growing by 20% in 2012, building on the 14% growth achieved in 2011. Last year was more challenging with estimates indicating a 5% fall in seafood revenues to €500 million.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his vision for the future development of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6869/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to ensure that fish stocks would be protected for future generations.

The new Common Fisheries Policy puts fishermen at the core in developing technical and conservation measures to protect juvenile fish and vulnerable fish species with a completely new regionalised decision making approach. This is a significant change as up to now fisheries decision making was centred in Brussels. The new CFP has moved away from the old system of EU wide development and application of the rules (a one size fits all approach). Instead, the new policy provides for the development of measures appropriate for each region by the Member States, in consultation with the stakeholders through the new Advisory Councils to devise and implement measures that work for the types of fisheries in the region. A first meeting of Member States from the North West region was hosted by Ireland in November.

A practical and phased discards policy is being introduced where in early years of implementation, TACs and quotas will be set to take account of current levels of discards, which should see quotas increase over time. This means that fishermen will have time to adjust and implement changes that will allow for the avoidance of non target species where there are particular problems with the relevant by-catch (such as that the stock is overfished and needs to be allowed to rebuild). In that context, I have established a national Discards Implementation Group to advise on the issues arising in the effective implementation of the new policy and to recommend practical solutions and arrangements that take into account the situation of the Irish industry.

Another key element of the new CFP is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of the MSY Principle (Maximum Sustainable Yield). This should lead to healthy fish stocks and to higher quotas for Irish fishermen and more sustainable fishing patterns.

Technical measures will also be introduced to avoid and minimise catches of juvenile fish and the reforms contain a commitment to continue and further strengthen conservation measures in the biologically sensitive area off the South and West coast of Ireland (new Irish box). The commitment to develop and strengthen biologically sensitive areas, with spawning grounds and high populations of juvenile fish will also protect the livelihoods of coastal communities by ensuring that fish are allowed to grow to maturity, are more plentiful and fished in a environmentally responsible manner.

Finally, and crucially from an Irish perspective, the Hague Preferences have been maintained and given increased reference in this agreement. The Hague Preferences have traditionally given Ireland an increased share of traditional whitefish stocks such as cod, haddock and whiting in the waters off our coast when stock levels are decreasing. It is important to bear in mind that other Member States receive reduced quota as a result of their allocation to Ireland and to the UK and there was no support from other Member States for a specific provision that would have made the application of Hague Preferences a mandatory provision of the CFP. In that context, having an increased reference to the Hague Preferences in the recitals of the new CFP Regulation is significant as it can be seen by other Member States as a clear signal of the intent of the Council and the Parliament.

My plans for the development of the overall seafood sector in the very short term are set out in the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, and the complementary Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013, which identify the investment priorities for the development of the sector up to 2015. The Seafood Development Programme includes the overwhelming majority of initiatives for the development of the sector. That Programme is co-funded by the European Union under the European Fisheries Fund. It was considerably updated in 2012, following an interim evaluation of its progress. The Programme identifies the development needs of the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors and the measures that will be implemented to address those needs. The complementary Irish Seafood National Programme is the framework programme for a small number of measures that are not included in the Seafood Development Programme or are not eligible for EU co-funding.

My Department is presently preparing a new Operational Programme for the seafood sector for the period 2014-2020 under the proposed EU Regulation for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The EU co-legislators recently reached political agreement on this proposed EU Regulation and the Council and European Parliament will vote on the proposal in the coming months. I would hope to see the Regulation adopted by the Summer. My Department has already conducted a public consultation with stakeholders in 2013 on issues facing the sector and investment priorities for the new Programme. In the coming months, my Department will continue to work closely with stakeholders as the new plan for the sector is developed. I would anticipate that the plan will be completed before the end of this year.