Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Tagann sé aniar aduaidh orm an méid eolais atá ag an Teachta Crowe mar gheall ar an tragóid is déanaí i saol na hiascaireachta sa tír seo. Ag an am céanna, agus muid ag léiriú comhbhróin leo siúd a cailleadh le blianta beaga anuas de bharr na hiascaireachta, ní mór dúinn díriú ar an mBille Iascaigh Mhara agus Dlínse Muirí 2005 chun ceisteanna a phlé atá níos leithne ná sin ach fós ceangailte leis.

I offer my sympathy and that of the Green Party, an Comhaontas Glas, to those bereaved by the tragic sinking of the trawler Rising Sun— the family of Mr. Jimmy Meyler of Passage East, County Wexford, and the family of the boat's skipper Mr. Pat Colfer, who are still holding out some hope of finding him, although hope is fading. We thank God that Mr. Ian Tierney of Kilmore Quay is safe. At the same time, however, we must bear in mind that this is by no means an isolated incident. There has been a mounting number of tragedies, such as that involving the Pisces and other vessels, which highlights the dangers that are now manifesting themselves for families around the country who depend upon fishing.

Apart from my national responsibilities as a party leader, I also speak as a public representative for north County Dublin. My constituents include fishermen working out of Skerries and Balbriggan, in addition to fishing from time to time out of Rogerstown, Loughshinny and other harbours along the coast.

This legislation is both vital and necessary in that we must all be reminded that fishermen are caught in a terrible, conflicting situation with less and less fish stocks together with an increasing cost base. That puts enormous pressure on them to take risks, the consequences of which can prove to be all too tragic. We are inheriting a situation, and the Minister of State's party was in Government at the time when this was set in stone——

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