Fishing quotas for 1983
The Minister said 1982 quotas remain in force on a rollover basis until 1983 quotas are agreed, with a Council meeting expected in mid-December. Gallagher asked the Minister to resist any reduced quota and prevent a shortfall being deducted from Ireland’s 1984 allocation; the Minister promised to seek the best deal for Irish fishermen.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the position regarding fishing quota arrangements for Irish fishermen for 1983; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
In accordance with agreement reached at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 25 January 1983 member states may fish up to the level of the 1982 agreed quotas until such time as quotas for 1983 have been settled. The position remains unaltered pending the outcome of current discussions on the 1983 quotas.
Comment on this
Could the Minister give us an indication as to whether further meetings are to be held in the near future to discuss the quota further? If so, in the event of a reduced quota being agreed upon, what situation will we find ourselves in?
Comment on this
The next scheduled Council meeting as far as I know is for some time in mid-December. Regulation 198/83, which governs the level of TAC quotas, will apply until such time as quotas for 1983 have been agreed. In other words, the 1982 quotas apply on a rollover basis. I cannot speculate as to what might happen. The legal position is that we are now restricted to operate within the limits of the 1982 quotas.
Comment on this
If a quota is agreed upon, which we hope will be an increased quota but we may find ourselves with a reduced quota, can the Minister assure the House that he will not permit his colleagues, the Fisheries Ministers in the EEC, to deduct the difference between the 1982 quota and what might be agreed before the end of 1983 from our 1984 quota?
Comment on this
That is a matter I have given some thought to, and the Deputy can be assured that I will endeavour to get the best deal possible for the Irish fishermen if and when the 1983 quotas are agreed on.
Comment on this
I have one final question. Will the Minister do his utmost at the next meeting as he did at the last meeting to ensure that no quota would be arrived at at this meeting either and that if necessary he will veto it? That is in our best interest particularly in view of what has happened recently. In fairness to the Minister I must say that coming home without any quota is much better than coming home with a quota because any agreed quota must be a reduced quota.