Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for attending and giving an expansive view on the fishing industry. I am not as familiar with it as perhaps I ought to be.

Fish processing which could contribute significantly to employment seems to be minimal within the industry. It is similar to the old argument about the beef industry when many jobs were lost when cattle were exported on the hoof. Thankfully, that trend has been reversed a little and we are in the peculiar position where if we did not have live exports, the beef industry would not be doing as well. Is there any correlation with what could happen in the fishing industry?

The Minister faces difficult negotiations and takes everybody's best wishes with him in trying to secure the best deal in the context of various external reports and advices with which he must contend regarding reductions that will be foisted on us in our TACs. To whom will he look for support around the table? We are able to cultivate support from, say, France and others in the case of the agriculture industry. Who are our best friends when it comes to the fishing industry? While many fish are being caught, they are being caught by large trawlers. What about the small entrepreneurs in the industry? Where do they fit in? Surely, because of these proposals they will suffer a significant adverse disproportionate impact. As Deputy Charlie McConalogue said, the Minister will try to mitigate the impact as best he can - we all wish him well in that regard - but will the harshness of the proposals be visited disproportionately on those who operate small trawlers and boats? Large trawlers can absorb such cuts better than small fisherman who are trying to rear families and do not have the wherewithal to compete or seek alternatives.