Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

No, by Irish fishermen. I am relating to the Minister of State the devastated lifestyles people are coming to terms with in fishing when they see the cost of fuel going through the roof, returns on their efforts yielding smaller and smaller incomes and the overheads of keeping boats in seaworthy conditions. As the Minister of State said, and I share his view, they also must compete with Spaniards and other nationalities.

Some say the main problem is that fish do not vote and fishermen do but I do not share this view. Many fishermen and trawlermen want conservation and the fair and consistent application of regulations. For example, the razor shellfish industry, which had no Government regulations placed on it and was fished off the County Meath coast around Mornington, was wiped out. That was a case where people wanted regulation but, because there was none, they decided to make whatever they could out of it while they could. It was not responsible of the Government to allow this to happen.

It is the same with drift net fishermen. People ask me why the Government is so slow in falling into line with other countries in respect of a buyout. These fishermen want the Government to take action in the interests of conservation. Tourism and coastal towns will suffer the longer this foot dragging goes on. I hope the Minister of State will understand that fishermen want a clear line from Government that is consistent, enforceable and will ensure that conservation is prioritised. They know as much as any of us that, unless there are fish, there is no fishing industry.

See this speech in context