Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

I want to talk about certain areas. For example, we know about fisheries, especially around the coastal areas. I am from the island of Arranmore and we are dying. Burtonport and Arranmore used to have a thriving industry. I get messages from people who are still fishing in Aran but have decided to no longer go fishing. They send questions to me and I reply that as someone who is newly elected I will take their questions and represent the community. Greencastle deserves designation because herring is being landed there. The nearest port with landing facilities is where the scientific studies have identified herring. Rathmullan is no longer a pelagic landing spot. Being able to land in Greencastle rather than Derry meets the Government's objectives of having boats land in Irish ports and, in turn, the fish factories will have secure supplies of raw materials. It is essential that Greencastle is designated a landing port for pelagic species over 10 tonnes. I say that because we have towns that were once thriving. In Killybegs there are children nearing school-leaving age who used to work in these factories but no longer do. They have told me that their dad's boat is tied up and it has only been out a few months of the year. We need to encourage these children to join the industry but instead, with the way things are, they are being driven away.