Deputy Michael Collins:

Fisheries has always been the poor relation in Irish politics. That has been the reality for the past 20 or 25 years but now the turkey has certainly come home to roost. Many fishermen are very angry. This is another serious issue that affects them. There are minor infringements and serious infringements but we do not know when the penalty points will kick in. If a fisherman is found not guilty in the context of the penalty points, will he at least be given the same respect as he would be given under every other legal process, with the understanding that the points are gone and he has a clear licence to fish? I will be supporting the amendment.