Committee
European and External Relations Committee, 17 Jan 2006
17 Jan 2006 · S2 · European and External Relations Committee
Item of business
Petition
Fishing Industry (PE804)
I think that the Public Petitions Committee sent the petition to us because it deals with a constitutional rather than a fishing issue. That would be a good reason for sending it to the European and External Relations Committee.We have just been talking about engaging with citizens. Here we have a chance to engage with the 750,000 of them who signed the petition. These are the real issues that people get uptight about in Europe. If the Public Petitions Committee believes that this is the right committee to deal with the petition and we take it on board, it would be right to give the petitioners a chance to air their views. It would be unfair if we took a one-sided view, so we would have to consider hearing from other witnesses as well, but I am certainly in favour of giving the petitioners a chance to engage with the committee in a real way on a European issue.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
SNP
The next item is a petition that has been referred to the committee by our colleagues on the Public Petitions Committee. It is from Carol MacDonald and Morag...
The Convener:
SNP
We have four options: we can agree to take no further action; we can refer the matter to the Environment and Rural Development Committee; we can invite the p...
Dennis Canavan:
Ind
The members of the Environment and Rural Development Committee might feel a bit miffed if we do not consult them on their views. In fact, I am surprised that...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I think that the Public Petitions Committee sent the petition to us because it deals with a constitutional rather than a fishing issue. That would be a good ...
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
I have looked at the petition and the petitioners clearly say that they would like withdrawal from the common fisheries policy. If the petition had said that...
The Convener:
SNP
Just before I bring in Gordon Jackson, I point out that when a petition goes to the Public Petitions Committee, it rules on whether it is competent to come t...
Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab):
Lab
I did not see much sign of that in the Public Petitions Committee's deliberations. People do not always apply their minds to everything. I noticed that the p...
The Convener:
SNP
The petition went to the Westminster Parliament for information only, from what I gather.
Gordon Jackson:
Lab
Perhaps so, but it says at the bottom of the Cod Crusaders' letter that accompanies the petition:"This petition will also be presented to European Parliament...
The Convener:
SNP
Yes, but you must also bear in mind the fact that the Public Petitions Committee deemed the petition to be competent. It took evidence on it, agreed its comp...
Mr Wallace:
LD
If we look at what the petition actually says, we can see that the petitioners are"calling for the Scottish Parliament to use its influence to return control...
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
Oh, it will. It is bound to.
Mr Wallace:
LD
I think that Dennis Canavan's point is right and that we should hear what the Environment and Rural Development Committee has to say on the petition.
The Convener:
SNP
Just to recap, Dennis Canavan's point was that, given that the Environment and Rural Development Committee is getting the other stuff about the CFP, we shoul...
Dennis Canavan:
Ind
Yes.
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
Gordon Jackson's point about the petition having gone to Westminster, which is the most appropriate place for it, is obviously right. However, the trouble is...
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
This is a complex issue. I know both Carol MacDonald and Morag Ritchie. Many of us have probably met them, as they have been regular visitors to the Parliame...
The Convener:
SNP
Are you suggesting that the committee pass on the petition to the other bodies that you have mentioned?
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
Yes, for action.
Dennis Canavan:
Ind
The Official Report of the Public Petitions Committee meeting on 7 December refers to a response from Ross Finnie. The convener stated:"That response has now...
The Convener:
SNP
I have a note of that and will summarise it later.
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
I do not honestly think that this discussion is about whether we feel sympathetic or otherwise towards the fishing communities. We all appreciate the importa...
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
On page 8 of the documentation accompanying the petition, there is a letter from the Cod Crusaders to Michael McMahon, which states: "Thank you once again fo...
The Convener:
SNP
We should recognise that the petition went to the Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament and was deemed competent by—
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
It was not really. If you read the Official Report—
The Convener:
SNP
The fact that the Public Petitions Committee took evidence on the petition means that the committee ruled it competent. Under our parliamentary system, the P...
Gordon Jackson:
Lab
Let us assume that the petition is competent on the basis of Jim Wallace's interesting idea—that the petitioners are only asking us to use our influence. Let...
The Convener:
SNP
Before I bring in Phil Gallie, I want to summarise the three recommendations that are on the table so that everyone is aware of them. First, we can write to ...
Dennis Canavan:
Ind
Yes. Even if the Environment and Rural Development Committee does not wish to take the petition on board, I would still be interested in its response. I list...
The Convener:
SNP
The second suggestion was that the committee should obtain Ross Finnie's reply to the Public Petitions Committee's letter.The third was Margaret Ewing's sugg...