Marine Minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher, is engaged in difficult negotiations at the annual EU Council meeting on Fisheries in Brussels. The Council, which normally involves several days of intense discussions, is designed to reach agreement across all Member States on the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas for the upcoming year (2006).
"The annual December Fisheries Council meeting is the single most important event in the Marine calendar each year. The decisions taken here over the next few days will impact enormously on Ireland's fishing fleet, not only in 2006 but also into future years. It is of vital importance to the Irish State that we achieve the best possible balance between protecting the livelihoods of our fishermen and producers while maintaining sustainable levels of fish stocks in Irish waters," said Pat the Cope.
The core of Ireland's negotiating position is to:
1) Secure increases to key quotas from the Commission's original proposal, where a sustainable fishery can support these increases.
2) Seek the implementation of the Hague Preferences, which give Ireland a better share of the fish stocks when they fall to low levels
3) Achieve a package of measures to secure action on the damage highlighted by the "DeepNet" report on deep water gill net fisheries to the West of Ireland.
4) Achieve a satisfactory fishing allocations for the pelagic fleet
An initial compromise proposal was circulated by the UK Presidency at the today, which sought to move nations in the negotiations closer together. This document was discussed at the Council meeting today and Ireland highlighted its difficulties with the proposal.
Minister Gallagher held a bi-lateral meeting with the Presidency and the Commission this evening to highlight to them Ireland's key priorities in the negotiations. Minister Gallagher has also held a series of meetings throughout the day with representatives of the Irish fishing industry and will continue to work in close concert with them over the following hours and days.
Bi-lateral meetings with the Presidency and the Commission will continue into the night and the Council will resume tomorrow morning and continue in plenary session for as long as necessary into the night to reach agreement on the TACs and Quota for 2006.
"I will continue to fight for Ireland's position in these negotiations. The fishing industry continues to be of importance in Ireland especially for those coastal communities, where incomes are lower and alternative employment is limited. This is why we must do our best to secure a sustainable future for the fishing industry," concluded Minister Gallagher.
ENDS