Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because I asked a lot of questions earlier. As Deputy Pringle noted, there is a bit of time to resolve this if there is to be any hope for the future of many fishermen. There are talks about transfer of ownership. The SFPA is waiting for the sector to come back to it about that and it is a possibility. Mr. Hayes said that if there is a solution, the SFPA would have found it. To me, though, making fishmeal out of fish is not an easy solution. It is no solution at all and a disastrous situation that all concerned find themselves in. I hope we will have regular meetings here over the next few months to see how we can find a solution.

A fisherman rang me today. Fishermen are talking about tie-up schemes and decommissioning. They want to get out. Is that what the Department, the Government or the country wants? I certainly do not see that because there is massive potential in the waters south-west of where I live and throughout our country. It is sad that fishing is almost at an end. For some reason, we seem to be continuously destroying this industry. Regardless of whoever is driving the rules, be it the Government or the SFPA, they do not seem to be the same as the rules that apply throughout Europe. We find ourselves in a dire situation and a solution needs to be found before we face wipe-out. On our part, we will try to make sure every option is afforded. I sincerely hope the Minister and Department will do the same. I ask the SFPA to find a solution and work with the sector to make sure the solution suits everybody.

Fishermen ask me when decommissioning will start. It is sad to think they cannot get a straight answer. It is unfortunate they are looking for decommissioning as a way out but that is what they are facing. I presume Mr. Hayes has no answer on when decommissioning will start.