andMr. White asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the up-to-date position regarding herring stocks in the Celtic Sea and the north-west coast, and if he will give details of the extent and intensity of the latest surveys.

Two commercial fishing vessels chartered by my Department carried out an extensive survey of the Celtic Sea between late November 1979 and the end of January 1980. This work was supplemented by an aerial survey using a newly developed technique. A young herring survey was carried out in July 1979 and a larval sampling programme has been in progress since last autumn.

As regards the north-west coast, my Department continued their practice of obtaining routine samples from landings of herring.

The results of this survey and sampling programme are at present being worked up with a view to presentation to the appropriate working group of ICES—International Council for the Exploration of the Sea—which will in due course give their considered opinion on the present state of the stocks in question.

Has the Minister any further knowledge than that in relation to this research? Am I right in suggesting that research has shown, particularly in the north-west, a substantial increase in stocks of herrings?

The scientific evidence available is not conclusive, but the scientists say that the herrings stocks are very encouraging with regard to the Celtic Sea. Landings on the north-west coast have been increasingly good, and while we have no conclusive evidence I, too, am encouraged by the results.

When the Minister is talking with his fellow Ministers in the EEC I hope he will keep it in the front of his mind that if these waters are re-opened they should if possible be open only to Irish fishermen.