Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

He wishes to develop the industry during his watch, and we want to help him. It would be an understatement to say that I would be disappointed if we do not emerge with a vastly improved Bill. The input of Members is what democracy is about. I still worry about the original drafters of this Bill, and the hostility towards the industry in the drafting of some of the sections is mind-boggling. I am a firm believer that the Minister of the day should have ultimate responsibility for the staff in his or her Department. The Minister should be available to Oireachtas committees, the Committee of Public Accounts and various statutory controls over high officials. This seafood control manager should be no different.

On the first reading of the proposed Bill, I was astonished to see the provision for the use of firearms. It may be the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Horatio Nelson, but I am not sure about the use of guns in the fishing context. I am glad the Minister of State brought his personal intervention to bear on the matter. The inflammatory section will be well and truly deleted. Thankfully, the Minister of State's commonsense and knowledge of the industry has been brought to bear on the issue.

It lacks credibility to simply suggest that Brussels is forcing our hand on the matters. We need a national strategy for this tremendous natural resource industry which has been neglected for so long. In the late 1990s I established a high level group to develop a strategy for the agriculture industry, entitled the 2010 study. This allowed examination of what the first decade of the new millennium would have to offer the industry. Before I left the post of Minister last year a mid-term refreshment of the national strategy was carried out. Is there such a strategy for our seafood industry? I ask the Minister of State to ensure that a similar strategy is developed quickly.

Seafood should be a part of the overall food industry. However, the Estimate for Bord Iascaigh Mhara is minuscule. BIM must develop the fleet and the seafood industry, and we are often told that seafood is so healthy and we must have quality and a modern industry. We are selling the industry short with the pittance that BIM has to develop the industry and promote the seafood element. I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure there is a worthwhile and substantial budget for our native and natural seafood industry.

Having spoken to fishermen, I know they are despondent and morale is extremely low in the industry. They may be wondering if this Bill is the final nail in the coffin of the industry. They want encouragement, and we are depending on the Minister of State to safeguard the industry, restore morale and give people in the industry a future, both for themselves and their families. I would like to think that fishermen could say to their families that there is future in the industry, that a decent living can be made and that the workers will be valued members of the Irish democracy. I would also like to believe they could see themselves as a significant and influential part of our economy.

I wish to know in the grand scheme of things where our fishing and seafood industry comes with regard to the Celtic tiger. I do not see it mentioned or hear of it making an impact in many of the economic reports, and I would like to see this remedied. One fisherman said last week "if there is meant to be so much money in fishing, why are people looking to decommission vessels?" In my own constituency, nine vessels, all over 18m in length, have been accepted for decommissioning in the first tranche announced last week.

We clearly need regulations for the industry, and as legislators we must be wise to the type of legislation that will take us into the next decade and beyond. We must be fair and balanced with the legislation. We should encourage people into the industry and help them rather than drive them out of business by introducing penalties that far exceed measures taken in the rest of Europe at this time. I am confident the suggested amendments I outlined earlier will be taken on board by the Minister of State. He has a tremendous understanding of the industry, probably a better understanding than any other person in the House. These proposed improvements would also gather cross-party support and I know they have the backing of the entire fishing industry.

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