Sir, - I am compelled to respond to Con Lucey of the IFA (September 4th) and his assertion that European agricultural policy had no effect on the fishing industry. That is not the experience of those, like myself, who have had a continuous involvement since accession.
From a fisheries viewpoint there were two periods of critical importance in Irish/EEC (now EU) relations. The first involved the accession negotiations. The central fisheries issue involved concerned freedom of access and traditional rights. At the time there was intense pressure to dispose of the issue as the other sectors had been concluded and a legal end-of-year deadline loomed. Accordingly the council reached agreement on fisheries in mid-December, 1971.
It was clear that a number of the other interests involved, including agriculture, would have been greatly displeased at any suggestion that Ireland's entry be delayed on account of fisheries - which they regarded as minor and marginal. In fact there was absolutely no political interest in adopting such a stance and the entire package was presented by the Government for approval at the 1972 Referendum.
The second, and far more important, opportunity to secure room for development of the Irish fishing industry occurred in the six or seven years prior to 1983. During this period steps were being taken to formulate a more integrated common fisheries policy (CFP), to extend fishery limits to 200 miles and, critically, to agree on how EEC fish resources should be shared.
As Con Lucey may recall, a major national campaign was launched to try to establish an Irish 50-mile exclusive zone in order to retain and protect indigenous Irish stocks and thereby safeguard coastal communities. This campaign, which generated a high level of public support, was not well received by the Commission (which was unsurprising), nor by the 1977 Fianna Fail Government (which was surprising) nor by the IFA (which complained about the amount of Government time and attention being devoted to the issue).
The formulation of the present CFP - which covers the period 1983-2002 - has as its central element an agreed formula for sharing out fish stocks over this period. The share-out formula is based mainly on recorded catch levels in the mid 1970s, and reflects the fact that the big players, who entered negotiations with big numbers, got the biggest shares - with Ireland being very much in the "small player" category.
During the CFP negotiation period common agricultural policy (CAP) payments were in full flow under one heading or another and no Minister for Agriculture could afford to return from Council sessions without another penny (or two) on intervention beef, or butter, or whatever. Otherwise they would have been given fair game for severe public condemnation.
In this type of situation background political horse-trading was inevitable so that, in securing "victories" for agriculture, concessions had to be made elsewhere - preferably where they would be least visible. - Yours, etc.,
Secretary General, Irish Fishermen's Organisation, Fenian Street, Dublin 2.