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

The presentations were stark. Many boats have had practically no fishing for 87 days and 4,500 people are dependent on them. An adequate compensation package to help people recover is lacking. It would take little to kick-start the industry again and it is not appropriate to put a package in place compelling people to borrow money to buy fishing gear when the vast majority of them cannot do so because financial institutions will not lend to people who are not reasonably well off in the current circumstances. If this package is not re-examined and reshaped, people will be unable to buy gear and resume fishing. I come from a coastal community and I am acutely aware of the difficulties the groups are facing.

Deputy Martin Ferris: The presentations were stark. Many boats have had practically no fishing for 87 days and 4,500 people in that category are dependent on this . An adequate compensation package to help people recover is lacking. It would take little to kick-start the industry again and to put a package in place. Compelling people to borrow money to buy fishing gear when the vast majority of them cannot do so because financial institutions will not lend to people who are not reasonably well off in the current circumstances. If this package is not re-examined and reshaped, people will be unable to buy gear and resume fishing. I come from a coastal community and I am acutely aware of the difficulties the groups are facing.

The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle O'Neill, and her officials in the North provided the money upfront in order that fishermen could buy their gear and return to fishing, feed their families, pay off some of the debts they incurred during the 87 days without fishing and kick-start the industry. We need something similar here. It does not make sense to insist on the proposed package under which fishermen can make claims subsequently if they are lucky enough to be able to afford lobster pots or whatever fishing gear is needed or get a loan to buy them. If the money was provided up-front, people would go out fishing and the money generated would be spent in the local economy and the spin-off would benefit everyone. I cannot understand what is proposed.

I propose that the committee ask the Minister to revisit this and to put in place a methodology through which people can access the funding in order that they can purchase gear to return to fishing. I hope this would be supported unanimously but something like that is needed.

It was said only 151 fisherman had taken up the offer of compensation, which speaks volumes.

Of all the people involved in the industry only 150 have managed to take it up. Looking at that it should tell any Minister what is really happening.

The witnesses have suggested accessing the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. That is another mechanism available to the Minister in order to make finance available to help get people back to fishing.

Since I was first elected to this House, I have got the impression that only the few of us elected representatives from the coastal communities really understand what it takes to service that community. The vast majority do not have any understanding of it. We need to try to convince people of what needs to be done here.

I have read Mr. Ó Catháin's presentation regarding trying to conserve the stocks and improve them. A considerable amount of work needs to be done within the industry in order to allow the industry to progress. I have spoken to the people from Kilmore - I know Mr. Ó Corcora personally. At one time it was possible to fish with 100 pots and make a decent living. The same people fishing for the same amount of fish now have 600, 700 or 800 pots out to try to make a living.

We need to look at how we can increase the stocks and preserve the stocks. Mr. Pat Mullins said that in his area the stocks had increased. However, I know that in my area and along most of the south coast the stocks are not in a healthy condition and that needs to be looked at. We need to look at it in the broader context of how we can manage that sector of the fishing economy and make it better and more productive for the people involved in it. That is a bigger debate and something the committee might look at. In consultation with the sector we might make proposals to make the sector more viable and sustainable in the long term.

I have heard what the witnesses have said and I absolutely concur with every word because I have seen it first-hand on the ground. I know the difficulties fishermen are experiencing. I know that a small manoeuvre can make things far easier. If the money was put upfront so that people could buy their fishing gear and go back fishing, it would be a huge help.

From meeting fishermen around the coast I am well acquainted with the difficulties they have in trying to access social welfare. If they are tied up for 87 days and cannot access social welfare they are depending on credit from the local shopkeeper or loans from family members or friends - some people have had to go down that road - in order to be able to keep going. There is difficulty with red tape surrounding somebody trying to get money from a community welfare officer or to get a few bob from the social welfare to feed a family. I know all of that and it is a huge problem.

I do not believe that any of us from the coastal community have ever experienced the weather we had from the end of the second week of December up to four weeks ago. There were three storms and I believe 40 days with winds of 40 knots or more, as outlined in the presentation. That tells its own story. We will need to try to up our game to ensure fishermen get some hope and that funding is made available so that they can purchase the gear necessary to go back fishing.