Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the representatives for coming in today to give their perspective on this Bill. I will raise a general question at the outset, one that follows from what Deputy Martin Kenny has been saying. A number of witnesses have argued that while they recognise the needs and difficulties of island fisherman, there are similar difficulties for fishermen, particularly smaller fishermen, who are on land and fish inshore. As such, to give particular leeway and specific allocation to island fishermen would be to discriminate against those who are on the mainland but also fishing in the same waters. I understand the point the witnesses are making. However, this comes down to the key principle and core of this Bill. Would the witnesses not agree that there are additional challenges and particular difficulties for those who are based on the islands and fishing from them, and that the opportunities are even more limited there? Is there not therefore a case for bringing in specific allocations as provided for in this Bill? I think that goes to the core of many of the points which were made in submissions today.

I wish to make a couple of specific points in reference to the presentations of Ms Norah Parke and the KFO. In her presentation, Ms Parke argued that there are flaws in the current version of the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017, that in its current form it would be a breach of both European Union and Irish legislation and that further promotion without major amendment would be pointless and serve to delay an outcome for island fishermen. Ms Parke says that on the basis that a fishing licence can only be allocated to a fishing vessel and cannot be attached to a person or a specific group of people. She says that although there are examples of quotas being ring-fenced for specific groups of people at European level, this cannot be done in Ireland. Is it not possible that this Irish law could be changed, were there to be a will for that to happen? I acknowledge it is not the way it is done at the moment. I seek clarification on whether that could change, should the will be there.

Mr. Francis Donnellan said there is a strongly held view by IFPO members who come from or currently live on islands that the drive to obtain a heritage licence may in fact allow for access to commercial fishing for Atlantic salmon in the future. He indicated that should it be opened again it should be open to mainland based fishermen working the inshore as well as to island based fishermen. Will he elaborate on why he made that point and where his members are coming from on that?