Eddie McGrady Attends Fisheries Meeting with Minister

Speaking after attending the Meeting with the DARD Minister along with the Tri-Council Fisheries Group the MP for the area said;

“The various and complex issues raised at the meeting highlight again the power of Europe over our local fishing industry and the importance of effective representation in Europe by the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.

The Minister was reminded of how the industry, in the face of year on year quota cuts and reduced days at sea, requires vital European funds. In the case of the new European Fisheries Fund, designed to restructure and assist the future of the industry, we trust these will be rolled out as originally planned.

Assurances were sought that we will not see a repeat of the situation we faced in 2006, when the Department refused to pay Tie-up Aid despite confirmation from the European Commission that the Department could pay Transitional Aid under the rules and payments available. The Minister was urged not to repeat this situation and to ensure these vital European Fisheries Funds be made available on a rolling strategic basis as first envisaged

Assurances were also sought on the immediate prioritisation of the upcoming Brussels negotiations, and that every effort be made to reduce the punitive cuts proposed by Brussels.

As we looked to the future of the industry and the ongoing reform of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy, due to be adopted in 2012,  the Minister was urged to champion the cause of the fishing industry and the local communities directly effected each year by the punitive cuts from Europe and secure a fair and sustainable outcome for Northern Ireland.