Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

We are in a situation where the Irish fleet is given a quota far below that to which it is entitled given the proportion of EU fishing waters nominally under the sovereignty of the State. Furthermore, the fishing sector is not earning its full potential because of the numbers of unprocessed fish that are exported rather than being processed here. All these issues must be addressed domestically. That is impossible, however, until the Government goes to Brussels and insists on a complete and radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Such a reform should place stock conservation on a proper footing and ensure our fisheries are not at the mercy of those who are happy to fish them out and then move on. The fishermen of Irish coastal communities have nowhere to which they can move their operations. They cannot get licences to fish off the west African coast.

It is vitally important for the future of the fishing industry that this Bill be defeated. I hope those on the Government benches who share the concerns of Opposition Members will vote in accordance with their convictions and those of the fishing representatives who have made their views on this well known. I pay tribute to the Chairman and members of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources who have voiced their concerns strongly and sought legal advice on the issue. I hope common sense will prevail. I appeal to the Minister of State, as a public representative from a coastal community, to adhere to the will of the people of his and other communities.

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