asked the Minister for Fisheries if he will seek to have a certain proportion of all fish caught in the 200-mile economic zone of this State landed within the State so as to provide continuity of supply and an opportunity for expansion of the fish processing industry.

In the expansion of our sea fishing industry the main aim must be to ensure that Irish fish processing factories utilise the highest possible proportion of the Irish catch for their processing operations. If there is any shortfall in supplies of particular species, processors can freely import from other member states of the European Economic Community to meet the deficiency.

Why not seek such an agreement?

It is desirable that this would be done on the basis of talks with the industry at every level, both in Ireland and in other member states but it is not a matter for formalisation in a treaty as such between states.

Why not?