Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

On Second Stage the Labour Party spokesman, Deputy Broughan, attempted to defer the Bill. As party Whip I supported this, perhaps for different reasons to the other two Opposition parties. The Green Party's position on this Bill has nothing to do with opposition for the sake of it. As our party spokesperson has highlighted, we support this Bill in its intent and content. However, we find it hard to believe the Government supports it. Regular reports suggest disagreement between the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Several contributions from Government Deputies suggest faith in this legislation is not what it should be from a Government presenting a Bill to this House. While supporting this Bill on Second Stage, I fear the Bill we will see after Committee and Report Stages will be a different type of animal. That would be most unfortunate.

I come from an island and fishing background. My family history would have been irredeemably altered if my grandfather had not stayed for another drink and instead took his place on the ferry before the Arranmore boat disaster. I know the risks to which people engaged in the fishing industry are exposed. That has changed somewhat with the modernisation of our fleet. Unfortunately, a Cinderella industry has seen its modernisation occur at a time when the raw material for the fishing industry has been most damaged.

We must acknowledge overfishing in our oceans. When Ireland was a smaller fishing nation it was easier to blame other nations for the size of their fleet and their capacity to take our stock. It was easier to blame inefficiency and ineptitude of other governments for the Common Fisheries Policy, in failing to negotiate proper standards and quotas for our fishing industry. The reality is that the modern Irish fishing fleet contains too many large vessels that are, in conservation terms, vacuum cleaners. The 20 ft boat is no longer the mainstay of our fleet. If we are serious about sustaining fishing stocks and how the industry can sustain coastal communities around the country, we must acknowledge that Irish people take some responsibility for overfishing.

The more we have modernised, the more we have moved away from the concept of the captain owner of a vessel. Many of those who benefit from the Irish fishing industry are not those who go out on boats and fish. They sit at home in citadels, wait for the fleet to come in and count the profits. With such distance between the nature and danger of the industry and the community that needs to benefit from the industry, questions must be asked on past legislation and how it can benefit people at which it is targeted.

The unfortunate aspect of the need to rigorously enforce conservation measures for our fishing stocks is that it leads to confrontation between many in the fishing industry and those policing on behalf of the State. It is regrettable that the Irish Naval Service, which does an excellent job on fisheries protection, finds itself confronted by people who seek to bend rules, exceed quotas and gain a competitive advantage by challenging the forces of the State. That cannot be condoned by this House.

If we are serious about a fishing industry of which we can be proud and developing that industry for the future, we must speak with one voice to ensure this happens. That said, I look forward with interest to the amendments if proposed by the Government. If they are of a number and type that changes the nature of this Bill, the strong support of the Green Party can no longer persist.

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