John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

We were told in a letter from Mr. Tuohy that failure to enact this Bill would leave the taxpayers seriously exposed to multi-million euro sanctions from Brussels, yet the committee was told quite clearly during a visit to the EU Commission last week that this was not the case. If the Browne case is so urgent, why is the Taoiseach not bringing every other Minister in here to introduce legislation? This case applies to every other Department. That has not been explained. This case is being used to bring in legislation that is not necessary.

This Bill is an inappropriate, ill-judged, one-dimensional approach to the management of our valuable fish resources. The perception is that it is concerned with the consolidation of law and the remedying of constitutional deficiencies. However, in its present form, it has been hijacked. A legislative opportunity to introduce wholly unwarranted provisions and curtailment of a citizen's right to redress has been taken. During a visit to the European Commission last week, members of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources were told that this was not the case.

I note that the present law has not prevented an effective fine of €40,000 being imposed on a trawler from Clogherhead earlier this week or the prosecution of further cases as we speak. I submit that if the intention was to rectify the deficiencies in law due to the Supreme Court case, it could have been done in a one-page Bill. Moreover, a thorough debate on fisheries could have been held.

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