Sharing fishery protection costs
Gallagher asked whether fishery protection costs would be shared equitably and whether the EEC would pay two-thirds. FitzGerald said Ireland had submitted its cost estimates and was awaiting Commission proposals; the detailed implementation of the equitable-arrangements agreement was not settled.
Did I understand the Minister to say that fishery protection would be shared equitably between the member states and is the Minister saying that no definite arrangement has yet been made in relation to how fishery protection will be fixed between the EEC and ourselves?
Comment on this
We put forward our estimates of the cost involved and the needs of fishery protection and then it is a matter for the Commission to propose means by which the decision of the Council of Ministers of 30th October can be implemented and we are awaiting proposals from the Commission, the Commission having taken account of the information we submitted.
Comment on this
Would the Minister explain then how his colleague, the Minister for Fisheries, stated recently in a radio interview that the EEC were prepared to pay two-thirds of the cost of fishery protection for this country?
Comment on this
The situation is that the agreement on equitable arrangements was reached on 30th October. The implementation of it in detail has yet to be accomplished.