The Irish fishing and seafood industry received terrible news in the past week that there will be further devastating cuts to the mackerel quota as well as cuts to blue whiting and boarfish. This has been referred to as economic Armageddon by the industry. My constituency of Donegal will be hit really hard by this. The European Commission has known for many years about the reckless overfishing of mackerel by fishing fleets from Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Russia and Britain but it has taken no meaningful action and there have been no repercussions. What is the Tánaiste's plan to secure our fair share of fish in our own waters? Is it acceptable in his view and in the Government's view that the fishing fleets from the countries that have recklessly overfished mackerel continue to fish in our waters?

Is the Government finally going to stand up for Ireland and our fishing communities in the face of this economic Armageddon, as they call it?

I thank Deputy Doherty very much for raising this issue. I had the opportunity to visit Donegal in the not-too-distant past and I met some of the fishing organisations and fishers in Killybegs. I know what a worrying time this is for people, as do the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who has specific responsibility for the area. There is no doubt that the proposals are deeply concerning. They will significantly impact on the Irish seafood sector.

Ireland has repeatedly raised the overfishing of key stocks by some coastal states outside the EU. The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, will continue to highlight this critical issue for our fishers and engage intently with the European Commission and other member states on possible actions we could take to protect our stocks. The Minister of State met with concerned fishers in Killybegs last Sunday. I have not had an opportunity to speak to him since but he was also to meet relevant stakeholder groups yesterday to gather input so that we could see how best to approach this together. I will ask that he keep in touch with Deputy Doherty and other interested Members of the House.