James Breen (Clare, Independent)

Is the Minister of State certain of that? If the Government claims its purpose is to bring Ireland into line with European Union legislation, the Bill will not achieve its objective. The measures are excessive and unfair to Irish fishermen and the proposed fines and punishments for infringements are disproportionate in comparison with those in place in other EU countries. For example, the penalty for fishing without a licence in Spain is a fine of €1,463, whereas the equivalent fine here will be €21,000. The Bill contains several other examples of such discrepancies which would impose a disproportionate punishment on the hard-pressed Irish fishing industry in comparison with its EU counterparts.

While I do not condone in any way the violation of fishing rules and regulations, it is unjust to impose on Irish fishermen penalties which are more severe than those imposed on fishermen from other countries. Fishermen here have long been penalised excessively. The Bill, as framed, is unacceptable to them and should be withdrawn.

I am also concerned by the proposal to allow the Naval Service to shoot at trawlers which fail to stop when requested to do so. Were such incidents to occur, they could easily result in serious injury or loss of life. This provision is unacceptable in any democracy and the Government will have to find an alternative approach to address the matter. Even Fianna Fáil Party Deputies have called on the Minister of State to remove the provision allowing the use of force.

The Government is putting a political spin on the introduction of the legislation by implying it has arisen as a result of the wishes of the European Union. Such an implication is not only untrue according to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Fianna Fáil Deputy Noel O'Flynn, but it also threatens to criminalise Irish fishermen. Why then is the Government pressing ahead with the legislation? Is it another example of its perceived policy of ignoring and downgrading all types of rural life and concentrating on corporate Ireland on the east coast, particularly the Dublin area? It is disgraceful that it will not invest time and resources in providing proper facilities for the fishing community. For example, proper piers and landing facilities are required in Quilty and Doonbeg and proper safety measures are needed in Doolin, all of which are in my constituency. The Government prefers to criminalise fishermen and seeks to justify firing shots into boats. I call on it to withdraw this crazy Bill and work towards improving the lives of fishermen and their families rather than wrecking them.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to the sinking of a fishing boat in the teeth of a storm in Quilty 12 months ago. What was the Government's response? It offered no assistance, despite the fact that fishermen's livelihoods were wrecked. We want proper landing facilities in Doonbeg, Doolin and Quilty. When will the Minister of State provide funding to protect those in County Clare who earn a livelihood from fishing. He has talked a great deal but I have yet to see him take action on the ground to help fishermen in my county. Did he do anything to help them when the boat I referred to sank? No, he said the storm which sank it was an act of God.

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