asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the proposed reductions in quotas for the various species of fish.

The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. If anybody wishes to ask any specific question in relation to any species I will be able to answer them. It is a very long reply in relation to all fish stocks.

The following quotas of interest to Irish fisherman were reduced in the EEC Commission proposals for 1984:

Note: Horse mackerel was not subject to quota in 1983 but was proposed to be included in the quota regime for 1984.

I am flabbergasted that we are given in tabular form the reply to a question as important as this one with regard to a reduction in quotas, quotas which the Minister was discussing in Europe yesterday, a reduction to 70,000 tonnes of mackerel. I cannot accept an answer like this. An answer such as that is indicative of the interest which the present Government have in fisheries.

A question, Deputy, please.

These are only proposals in relation to the quotas. These discussions went on practically all last year and it was December before the 1983 quotas were finally decided.

Could the Minister of State give us some details of the most recent proposals, especially in relation to mackerel and herring catches in the north west?

In relation to mackerel, the quota for 1983 was 80,000 tonnes. At present a figure of 70,400 tonnes is proposed. With regard to herring, in the area VIaN, north west of Ireland, last year the quota was 9,250 tonnes, this year the proposals are for 8,460 tonnes. With regard to herring in the Celtic Sea, last year's quota was 7,000 tonnes, the proposed quota for this year is 5,180 tonnes. These proposals are being discussed at present.

Is the Minister aware that the Department of Forestry and Fisheries, in conjunction with BIM and Údarás na Gaeltachta, placed an advertisement in the national newspapers and the fishing publication inviting people to apply for grants for boats which measured 133 feet? Can they be serious in offering money and incentives to fishermen when they know that they cannot take advantage of them in view of the proposed reduced quotas?

There is no change in the policy of BIM. It is normal to place advertisements in the paper annually and it applies to people who change their boats, not just to new boats. The Deputy also questioned the reduction in quotas——

The Minister seems to be answering a question he should not have been asked.

The Deputy also asked about a reduction in quotas. We are hopeful of retaining the same catches as we had in 1983 and maybe extending them in certain species.

I asked the Minister if he was aware that the various bodies here responsible for the industry put an advertisement in the relevant newspapers inviting people to apply for grants to purchase boats of 133 feet, remembering that there were no grants for these boats prior to——

If the Deputy thinks about it for a second or two, I am sure he will be convinced that what he is asking now is very far removed from the question on the Order Paper.

I should like you, a Cheann Comhairle, to remind the Minister that he did not answer the question which I asked.

I have no control over the Minister.

You have control over me but no control over the Minister?

Exactly. I have control over the questions that are asked but, for decades past, the Ceann Comhairle, no matter how good or bad he was, had no control over how questions were answered.

It is no reflection on you, a Cheann Comhairle. I only want a simple answer to the question I asked —are they fooling the fishermen by offering incentives when only four of those boats could land 80,000 tonnes?

Deputy Gallagher is speaking about something which is not covered by the question.

In relation to the Celtic Sea proposal, does the 5,000 tonnes refer exclusively to Irish boats or are other member states involved?

This proposal is exclusively for Irish boats.

A reduction of 7,000 to 5,000 tonnes in the quota for the Celtic Sea is virtually a closure of that sea. I do not think that the amount of stocks justifies a reduction of that nature. Can the Minister of State give an assurance that every effort will be made by him to ensure that this quota is substantially increased, bearing in mind that stocks in the Celtic Sea can yield a substantially increased quota over the 5,000 tonnes to which he referred?

These are only proposals and I assure the Deputy that the Minister and I will be endeavouring to get at least the 7,000 tonnes quota we got last year in the Celtic Sea, exclusively for Irish boats. However, the Deputy must remember that the total allowable catch has been reduced by the EEC in all cases. These negotiations are ongoing and it will take some time before any conclusions are reached. Everything will be done to ensure that we get the maximum quota, especially in the Celtic Sea, in view of the scientific reports which are now available.

A final question from Deputy Gallagher.

Is the Minister trying to have the 80,000 tonne quota of last year increased rather than trying to negotiate a figure between 70,000 and 80,000 tonnes, in view of the landing capacity of the boats and the freezing capacity on shore?

Yes, the Minister and I had a meeting on this issue and we are looking for substantial increases in quotas in all species, including mackerel.

Has the Minister any figures available?

I do not think I should disclose figures at this stage but the Deputy should remember that last year when we were offered 60,000 tonnes we managed to increase it to 80,000 tonnes. This year we are asking for a further increase on that figure.