asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will give the details of the compensation scheme available to fishermen who had to stop fishing for herring in the Celtic Sea because of the EEC ban; the total amount of money paid out under this scheme, and the amount paid to Irish fishermen.

The EEC Commission's proposals in this matter are contained in document No. R./2519/77 (AGRI 679) (RELEX 90) a copy of which I have arranged to be placed in the library. These proposals have not yet been adopted by the Council of Ministers and consequently no compensation has yet been paid.

Would I be right in thinking these proposals were originally brought forward three years ago?

The proposals were brought forward on 24-25 October 1977 but were not discussed in depth by the Council at that time. I raised them again at the January meeting of this year and the Italian Presidency gave an undertaking to have them considered and examined. We have reminded our representation in Brussels to remind the presidency of this intention. We have heard nothing since.

I am grateful the Minister revived the matter but would he not agree that the delay has been of undue length and that a number of Irish fishermen who traditionally fished for herring in the Irish Sea are in financial difficulties because this measure has not been implemented?

The matter has been let lie for a long time and we should have an answer one way or the other. I would not like to comment on difficulties experienced by fishermen in any one area.

Has the Minister had many claims from Irish fishermen who are being deprived of the right to fish in the Celtic Sea?

I do not have that information at my disposal but I will make it available to the Deputy if it is in the Department.

Is it the position that these fishermen will be given compensation?

If there is agreement at EEC level that compensation should be paid applications will be invited. We will have an obligation to meet 50 per cent of the amount of compensation and match it £ for £. An examination would have to be carried out on the losses suffered by people and that would be based on their catches for previous years. It will require a lot of research and work.

Is the Minister aware that England have given their fishermen a subsidy of £3 million and, that being so, our Government have been very far behind in that at this stage we have not been able to offer compensation to fishermen who have been hard hit?

I would not consider that Britain should be held up as models of Community practice.

I have permitted a number of supplementaries. We must curtail them.

Their decisions would not be something we would want to follow.

They have treated their fishermen better.

I am calling the next question.

8.