Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will know that the worst affected sector of the economy since Brexit has been the fishing community. The losses have been devastating. It in not just the offshore sector. The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association has been before the joint committee and in the audiovisual room to make presentations on the serious crisis in the industry. Fishermen have repeatedly asked for support through a fuel subsidy. Governments in other EU member states have provided such subsidies. No state was more impacted by Brexit than Ireland and no fishing community was more impacted by it than the Irish one, yet we are one of the only member states that did not receive any financial subsidies for our sector. At meeting after meeting, organisations representing every part of the industry, whether producer organisations, inshore fishing organisations or island fishers, have been crying out for a fuel subsidy. They have raised it again and again but every time they do so, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, talks about how his officials are monitoring the prices. They wilfully refuse to provide supports to our fishing community.

I have read the Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia reports on the decline of the fishing industry. Speaking to fisherman all along the coast, there is profound anger.

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They feel like they have been abandoned. They feel like there is no plan. I cannot understand why the Government continues to refuse to provide the necessary supports. When we talk about climate change and the forms of energy protection and so on that are required, I find it absolutely despicable that those in the inshore fishing sector and in island communities, who did not get any support through tie-up schemes or decommissioning offers, have received no fuel subsidies whatsoever. How many times do the inshore fishermen need to come into this House and beg for support? Recently they met the Minister; I understand some of them had to walk out of the meeting. There was nothing on the table in terms of financial support. I take the opportunity of this evening's debate to appeal directly to the Minister. I ask him to talk to the Minister for the marine, Deputy McConalogue, and ask him how on earth we cannot provide the supports necessary for inshore fishermen.

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