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

If Irish fishermen do not come out well from this, it will lead to disaster. It is a disaster at present, as well the Minister knows. We have had many a debate on it.

I mentioned this last week and there are loads of other issues on which the Minister is to come back to me - I accept that - but there is great frustration that there is a lack of communication. Apparently, there was a great communication link between BIM and the local fishermen. Many of the vessel owners especially are in limbo with the new grant aid package. They are very happy with the grant aid when they get it but they do not know if they will get it. They are doing up their vessels. It is costing a lot of money. We could be talking about €50,000, €60,000 or €80,000 here, and the grant is about 50%, I think. Is that what they are told? While they will get an acknowledgement, they are not sure whether they are going to get the money. Before, they had communication with someone who could clarify all that. That is gone, and there is great frustration among the fishermen. As I said, they are not complaining about the amount of grant aid - they are quite happy about that - but about the lack of communication. It is the same as anybody else. Do you invest in doing up your vessel, or can you do so? Are you going to get the grant or not? They would really appreciate a bit of open dialogue. As I said, it was there before, apparently. It is not there as it used to be. Will fishermen get that grant or what is the story?