Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

I begin by signalling the support of Sinn Féin for the amending legislation, as anything that clarifies legislation is always welcome. I am glad the Bill sets out exactly what will stay with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and what will be transferred to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

This area must be managed as efficiently as possible as it is very important to the State and its citizens. The foreshore in Ireland covers a vast area and is very significant. We in Sinn Féin want to protect and promote all our natural resources and we understand the need for legislation in the area. I hope the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will give the foreshore the same importance accorded to it by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I look forward to the exploitation of wind and wave power in the near future and look forward to a greater promotion of this type of energy production. They are the future and we must realise this.

The State owns the foreshore and the resource must be utilised in order that the people can gain from it. We must ensure the fishing industry is given enough support to thrive rather than left to fall away and become defunct. There has been a significant reduction in the fishing industry since we joined the European Union, or the Common Market as it was called. If we are to help this sector become more prosperous, we must reinvigorate our fishing industry and make it ready for business.

The current common fisheries review group prevents the development of the fishing sector and this must change. If the Bill allows for greater protection and promotion of our foreshore, we should welcome it. I am a little sceptical of the Bill, however, and we must be assured that the granting of licences and leases will be done with as much transparency as possible. There can no longer be a question mark over the manner in which some are granted because that is unacceptable.

I hope that dividing the duties is as clear as the officials have indicated. We do not want a position where people will be passed from one Department to another or Departments deal with issues on a geographical basis, as opposed to the activities taking place. Under the new Government, which promised real change in its election manifesto, we expect that smaller interests will be protected as much as the larger examples. We assume the Government will stand by these promises and we will hold the Government to account in this respect.

We do not want a scenario where local fishermen cannot go about their daily work because the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government interferes with their rights. We do not want a position where because responsibility has been transferred from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, there will be a real threat to the use of lobster pots or use of certain nets.

The previous speaker from the Government benches noted there is significant potential in the fishing industry and mentioned the lobster sector. In raising the point that there are untapped markets, he complained about EU interference. I remind those on the Government benches that during their parties' terms in Government, not much was done to stop EU interference. It is good to be part of Europe but we should be mindful that the big foot of the European dUnion must not stamp so heavily that it will squeeze the economic life from the country.

We must be assured this amending legislation can clarify responsibility and does exactly as promised. Otherwise it will be of no use to us. We welcome the amending legislation nonetheless.

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