Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to ascertain for me when the €10 billion that Europe has siphoned from us since 1973 will be repaid to the Irish people, particularly to the fishermen. Approximately, €10 billion of valuable fish has been take from Irish waters in that 40 years. I note the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will go to Europe, next week or in the early days of the following week, to renegotiate our quotas which is where one takes with one hand and gives away with the other. The simple fact is that of all sectors of Ireland, the fishermen were the forgotten sector when negotiation took place in 1973. They were not properly represented. Successive Governments - I say this against my party's Governments in the past - neglected to seek proper quotas for Irish fishermen.