Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The most obvious point that jumps out at me from the presentations is that there is no cohesive plan.

I have been involved in this sector for most of my life but it seems that the powers that be never treated the fishing sector with the interest it deserved and never made an effort to realise the potential that lies within the sector. The people from the islands and others referred to the salmon fishery. I remember that debate taking place and I fought the proposals from my perspective and experience. I pointed out at the time that there was no logic to the proposals. I said a traditional industry was being taken away from rural communities that were dependent on it during the summer months. Taking it away meant that pressure was applied to another sector and there was no replacement for what was lost. People who were traditionally salmon fishermen went back to lobster and crayfish and to using gill nets. As has been said, it was an industry that was a sustainable aspect of island communities and allowed people to have spending power and to remain on the islands and in coastal communities. Once that was taken away it had a detrimental effect. No thought was put into what was done. The reason it was done was lobbying from sectors outside the fishing area. There was no will to deal with the issue with the sincerity it deserved on the part of political parties. What happened was due to lobby groups. The fishing sector was seen as weak, particularly inland fisheries and coastal communities. They did not have the necessary political clout to convince the decision makers of the folly of their ways. Now we see the consequences of the decisions taken.

From my work in the committee I am aware of the interest of colleagues from all political parties who represent coastal communities. Deputy Harrington is a west Cork man, and Deputies Pringle and Ó Cuív also represent coastal communities. All of the party spokespersons are coastal people. We see the consequences of decisions that were taken and what that has done to rural communities. Mr. Flynn referred to the area north of Kenmare, from Sneem over to Waterville and up to Cahirciveen. The area is decimated. In my area of Fenit there was a lovely industry. We had salmon and ling and a number of trawlers fished out of the area. The ISO fishery was based there. The fishing activity provided an income for most of the year. It was not a great income but it was capable of sustaining the community. Dingle has been hit badly also, as has Portmagee this year. They are small communities that have been the soul of rural Ireland and they have kept going. There is no plan to reverse what has happened.

We have listened to the witnesses this morning and taken advice from the presentations in a positive way in order to do what we can to reverse the terrible injustice that has been done to coastal communities. We must have a plan, and quota, to which Mr. Sheehan correctly referred. Quota is a significant problem for inland fisheries. Discards are an added dimension of the problem. Ring-fencing quota for a small number of vessels is disgraceful. Currently, two big fisheries have been ring-fenced based on the geographical location of Ministers. It is disgraceful and indefensible. It is important to keep as many people as possible in the industry in order for them to have a sustainable income, rear their families, live in communities and protect coastal communities in rural areas. That is not what is happening. If one ring-fences fishing for a small number of boats, one does a terrible disservice to the wider community because it will suffer as a result.

All of us must articulate the point to the best of our ability and fight the battle in the Oireachtas to ensure we look after the common good. We are not in favour of individuals making huge amounts of money for themselves. We must focus on the common good and what is best for communities in rural areas in order for them to survive so that people can live there. Mr. Flynn referred in his presentation to 600 licence applications that are still with the Department. That is indefensible. We must focus on what will give employment and spending power in communities. The knock-on effect of decisions must be taken into account. What has happened is disgraceful.

We have had presentations on the proposed salmon farm off the islands in Galway. There is something to be said for and against it. Some people are in favour of the proposal and others are against it. The decision must be fast-tracked one way or the other. If there are concerns about cross-contamination then we need to know about it. However, the situation has dragged on. I would welcome Mr. Flynn’s view on the issue when he responds because it is something on which we are being lobbied on a daily basis by both sides.

The plan for the future must involve the sector – those at the coalface. It must involve the entire industry and be driven politically in the interests of the survival of the fishing sector as well as of job creation, which is important for the livelihoods of people in coastal communities. It should not in any way be held back by those who have another vested interest. People know what I am talking about. In the context of salmon fishing those who were not involved in the fishing sector had a vested interest for commercial reasons. They did not depend on making a living from it to support their families. Their interest was recreational. The campaign was driven from that perspective and it did a lot of damage to many coastal communities. I thank all witnesses for their presentations. They contained much information, some of which we already know as we are aware of it from our constituencies. The issue must be addressed urgently.