Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I note an increase of €2 million in the allocation for Inland Fisheries Ireland. A backlog of cases will occur following the change proposed in legislation due to be adopted. The new legislation will result in a large number of legal actions. Is the €2 million increase sufficient to deal with this backlog or does it even cover these cases?

The Minister of State is correct regarding the protection of eels and the EU regulation in this matter. However, a number of former eel fishermen who accepted the approach taken at the time went out of business. They were engaged legitimately in eel fishing which was their livelihood. If a similar decision had been taken in mainstream agriculture, a financial package would have been provided either before the ban or soon afterwards for those who were about to lose their livelihoods. Has progress been made in providing a modest compensation package for former eel fishermen who were put out of business by the ban on eel fishing?