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.