Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator O'Donovan's call for a debate on the fishing industry and second his amendment to the Order of Business on the overnight developments at EU level on the Common Fisheries Policy. We require an update on it. While I generally welcome what was achieved at European level and the work of the Minister, much has been disguised under the banner of discards.

Much more significant issues face the industry apart from discards. The pelagic sector which fishes out of Castletownbere, Killybegs and Rossaveale, to a lesser extent, is very concerned that the discard issue is being flagged while other issues facing the industry are being ignored. The proposals contained in the CFP reform proposal in regard to discards are somewhat unworkable, given that the pelagic fleet is expected to introduce discards by January 2015. We need a rational debate.

I agree with Senator O'Donovan that there has been no consultation whatsoever with the fishing industry on discards. The pelagic sector is worth millions of euro to the Irish economy and supports the fish processing sector, but it has not been consulted on this issue. That is not right. Why has Minister, ahead of such important negotiations at European level, not negotiated with the fishing sector?

As Senator O'Donovan said, it would not happen in any other sector and should not happen in the fishing sector. We need a debate at an early opportunity with the Minister to discuss all of the technical details associated with the CFP review.

I refer to the two women in County Louth who are in hospital as a result of the cannabis they consumed. There is a drug epidemic in the country. Criminals are dealing in drugs up and down the country, and are pushing drugs very aggressively. The Garda does not have the resources to deal with this epidemic. We need to have a debate on drug abuse and the impact it is having on young people. It is a scourge on society. I ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to discuss what he is doing about the issue.