Ministers Smith And Killeen Meet EU Fisheries Commissioner

Ireland (SANEPR.com) June 18, 2008 -- While the meeting was the first face-to-face meeting between the Ministers and the Commissioner, it followed a lengthy telephone conversation recently between Minister Smith and the Commissioner.

In the course of the meeting, the Ministers, as they had undertaken to do during a meeting with the Federation of Irish Fishermen on Friday last, impressed upon the Commissioner the serious difficulties and the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen and also the urgent need to bring forward an EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the concerns of Irish fishermen.

Minister Smith also indicated to the Commissioner his intention to press, at next weeks Fisheries Council, for the adoption of new EU Regulations to prevent the import of illegal, unregulated and unreported fish into the EU market which are undermining the markets for legally caught fish, as well as the early adoption of new conservation measures to reduce discards and juvenile fish protection measures in the waters around Ireland.

Minister Killeen emphasised to Commissioner Borg the priority that would have to be attached to the Irish fishing fleet in any EU package and also raised the issue of the requested adjustment of the Celtic Sea Cod TAC.

The Ministers welcomed the proposals outlined by the Commissioner, which were published last evening, but highlighted the absence of a provision for additional EU funding to underwrite the proposals.

Commissioner Borg indicated that he was still undertaking an exercise within the DG Mare to explore all possibilities for the identification of some additional funding for the package.

Following the meeting, the Ministers expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to once again press the case for EU assistance for Irish fishermen.

Minister Smith said that Commissioner Borg was now fully acquainted with the issues of concern to Irish fishermen.

Minister of State Killeen said that as many of the issues were also of concern to fishermen in other Member States, he and Minister Smith would continue to press, with their colleagues at next week’s Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg, for a package of measures and additional EU-funding which would be required to address the difficulties being experienced by fishermen across the EU and particularly in Ireland.

Following a full discussion on the range of issues affecting the industry at next weeks Council, Commissioner Borg will propose a definitive set of proposals for presentation to the Fisheries Council of 15 July.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry), is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304. Alternatively please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available on request