Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

I hope it is not live ammunition that is being fired across the House. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House on the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005. I welcome the debate and the fact that a contribution has been made by Deputies on all sides of the House and from all areas of the country, not just the coastal constituencies.

The focus on fishing is long overdue and our native Governments have neglected the industry in a major way over the years. It is only in recent years that attention has been turned to developing the industry to realise its potential. Since my election in 1977, I have seen a major transition in the industry in Cork South-West, particularly in the ports of Castletownbere, Union Hall, Skull, Kinsale and Baltimore. It is the major industry in the constituency and, along with tourism and farming, it makes up the mainstay of employment. I am thankful the fleet and harbours have been modernised over the period. An initiative was taken by Fianna Fáil to modernise the fleet in 1997 and I thank Deputy Woods in this regard as he was Minister that year. It was a very futuristic and innovative development because, at the time, the average age of the Irish fleet was in excess of 30 years. It was the second oldest whitefish fleet in Europe. Fishing families can now be more content that the fishermen are at sea in much safer vessels than those of previous generations.

When discussing legislation and regulations, it is easy to forget that there is a human side to the industry. Fishermen have to go out in appalling and dangerous weather conditions. I wish some of the people drafting the relevant regulations would take a trip to sea now and again to note the extent of the danger and difficulties fishermen must endure. People do not fully appreciate the isolated nature of our coastal communities. Fishing is central to the economic and social lives of many coastal regions. If these areas did not have fishing, there would be no other source of employment. It is a pity there is not better access to many of the coastal ports. Having said that, access is improving. Roadways are improving a little, but not quickly enough, and the same is the case for harbours and piers. Technology, especially telecommunications technology, is improving but it will be some time before ports such as Castletownbere have broadband technology such as exists in the major technology and business parks in other parts of the country. To say peripherality is being addressed is not quite true and we must pay more attention to coastal communities and towns.

I know from my constituents that the fishing industry is going through a difficult time, particularly as a result of high fuel costs. Given the highly capitalised nature of the industry, increases in the cost of borrowing will have a major impact on the viability of the industry. I know fishermen who have to extend their credit periods, just as homeowners extend their mortgages. It is in this context and in light of the aforementioned social and economic issues that we need to discuss this legislation. In my three decades as a Member, I discovered that the vast majority of fishermen are sturdy and brave people. They have tremendous energy and capacity for hard work in dangerous and difficult conditions. Treating these people like criminals is not right in our modern democracy. A constituent called me recently to tell me that he had been fined €700 for having two untagged salmon. He is trying to build a house, get married and settle down. To be fined €700 for two untagged salmon was quite difficult.

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