Fisheries Council outcome
Deputy Mac Lochlainn attacked the fisheries outcome and the influence of large Dutch quota-holding corporations. The Taoiseach said the Government would use every lever to support Irish fishermen, while the Tánaiste added that conglomerates in the Netherlands had gained major influence.
The Taoiseach did not answer the earlier questions about the Fisheries Council outcome. It is a disastrous outcome. The Taoiseach must know about the big five, the massive Dutch corporations that have bought up fish quotas across the European Union. They have 240 vessels. Approximately one in six of the fish caught under all the countries of Europe are under these corporations. They clearly have more power than our country. How can it be that for our State and our waters, which have suffered so much, the Hague preferences - in place since 1976 and the final veneer of fairness in the Common Fisheries Policy for Ireland - can just be stripped away? I am asking the Taoiseach if he will take legal action. Will he call for an investigation into these major corporations based in the Netherlands that are plundering and taking fish all across the European Union under the Common Fisheries Policy? Deputy Michael Collins called it corrupt. I think it is a corrupt policy at this stage and the Taoiseach needs to speak out and defend Irish interests on this matter.
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The Government will use very lever at its disposal to support the Irish fishing industry. It seems to me that the most effective one we have right now is what we can do nationally to support the industry because of the research outcomes. It is the research outcomes that have the most devastating impact. Let us be clear about that. What is happening with the Hague preferences is wrong and we have pursued that in any way we can. However, we are looking at over 100 million, the vast bulk of which is made up of a 70% reduction in pelagic, 41% in another category and right along. It is devastating because of overfishing by countries outside of the European Union-----
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Backed by these corporations.
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-----with which the EU has an agreement. There is also the issue of what has transpired. The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, has apprised me of this in terms of how the industry has changed in the Netherlands where it is now conglomerates essentially running the industry. They are clearly winning a lot of influence to get the outcome they got last week.