Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the funding allocation the Minister announced recently which will go a long way towarding repairing many of the piers and quays and harbour infrastructure damaged and also the €1.5 million in funding announced to alleviate the losses incurred by some inshore fishermen through the loss of shrimp and lobster pots and other gear.

I am pleased to report that in the past day or two much of the fishing fleet that had been tied up for so long finally put to sea but a problem remains. Many of the fishermen who will go to sea today will not be in a position to catch many fish for the next few days, perhaps even for a week, because of the swell. Effectively, the nets are hopping along the bottom of the sea. This will make for a very poor fishing trip but desperation has forced them out in relatively safe and good weather. I wish them well. I am a little pessimistic, but that is the reality as relayed to me. Even when they do make a catch, it will be some weeks before they receive any remuneration for it. The reality is that it takes a couple of weeks for the cheque to arrive in the post. It will take at least eight to ten weeks for some fishermen solely because of the bad weather.

Allied with this, the Minister is aware of the challenging quota issue in the whitefish sector. Unfortunately, some fishermen have not had the benefit of a remuneration package or a cheque in the post since October. That aside, I want to ascertain if it is possible to come up with a compensation scheme for fishermen, many of whom will go on a trip of up to five days. Some of those heading for the Porcupine Bank to fish for prawns could be taking a 15 day trip to earn a wage to put food on the table for their families. A compensation scheme was initiated about 20 years ago but it was so badly handled by the previous Administration that Members of this House could claim money. That was a poor reflection on that Administration and there are those in the fishing industry who criticise that scheme. They will say it was inefficient, poorly administered and not targeted, but the position has changed. The regulations in the administration of sea fisheries have been tightened and a scheme could be easily targeted at those worst affected by the recent bad weather.

I raise this issue also in the context of the much publicised comments made by a French MEP who publicly stated there might be access through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, under Article 33(c)(1). Even though it has not yet been fully signed off on, it may well be a provision through which this country could make an application for funding. I would be grateful if the Minister confirmed that the Department and his officials were considering making such an application. If not, will he consider providing for some compensation scheme for hard-pressed fishermen and their families along the coast? We have heard calls from our colleagues in the North of Ireland who are also affected by weather issues. I look forward to hearing the Minister's comments.

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