Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Industry

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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454. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a recent European Parliament fisheries committee draft report calling for the UK to adhere to EU rules after Brexit by making a North Sea fish stocks plan contingent on the Common Fisheries Policy. [14918/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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While Ireland does not have a direct interest in the North Sea, I am aware of the document referred to by the Deputy. This is preliminary examination by the European Parliament of a proposal by the Commission for a regulation establishing a multi-annual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea. Proposals such as this are subject to co-decision by the Council and the Parliament. Both institutions must each examine it separately before entering into negotiations together to try and reach agreement on a final text.

In that context, there is still some way to go before the proposed North Sea plan comes into being.

The document in question contains proposed amendments from the European Parliament that aim “to establish a firm working basis for future management with third countries pursuant to Article 33 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013”. I am advised that the suggested amendments to the North Sea Plan proposal are essentially superfluous as they merely reiterate what is already in EU legislation and are, consequently, unlikely to end up in the final text.

Whether or not the suggested amendments do succeed, it is important to point out that following the departure of the UK from the EU, they will be classified as a "third country" similar to Norway or the Faroe Islands. The suggested amendments are not specific to the UK and would not bind third countries to comply with the Common Fisheries Policy.

The UK could, of course, if it so chose, decide to retain the CFP in its own domestic legislation.

Ensuring that sustainable fishing is maintained by all parties following the UK's departure from the EU is of the utmost importance and I will work closely with all parties to achieve that objective.

In that context, I have recently held a series of meetings with key fisheries Ministers and am coordinating a like minded group of 8 Member States to ensure that fisheries remains a key priority in the negotiations to come. Protecting existing shares will be a top priority for that group. As both I and An Taoiseach have stated before, we intend to ensure that fisheries remains high on the Brexit agenda in the EU and that Ireland obtains the best possible outcome from the negotiations.

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