A Friend of the Fishermen
Ireland is not a progressive country on fisheries policy. On CFP reform it counts itself as the same camp as France and Spain.
Ireland for the Irish
Ireland is against the introduction of TFCs because it thinks that only the Irish should own on the Irish fishing quota. I have doubts that the Irish government have a clue who really owns the Irish fishing quota in practice but that is another matter. It is like the economic mantra of the Free State in the 1920s and 1930s. It is economic and ecologically illiteracy, but foolishness is never a reason to stop a government doing something.
Simon Coveney – Fresh Ideas
I found the Irish Agriucture and Fishing Minister, Simon Coveney, comments in the Parliament Magazine of interest.
He wants to bring about a deal on the CFP Reform and bring it about quickly.
The Parliament Magazine quotes the Minister:
“Looking forward to the Irish presidency, the reform of the CFP will be foremost on our work programme with agenda slots on most of the agriculture and fisheries council agendas in the new year. I will actively endeavour to reach agreement on the reform package during the Irish presidency in the first half of 2013. Our aim will be to facilitate the negotiations between the council and parliament with a view to brokering a compromise agreement by June”.
Reform may happen sooner. That will be good for the fish. The time for delivering real and concrete improvements to fish stocks is urgently needed. Without the fish, the fishermen will have no future.