John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

Is it not a fact that the Commission will fine the Minister's Department for the non-implementation of existing legislation? There is a smear campaign against the whole fishing industry, 6,500 fishermen, even in The Irish Times today. What has the Department done about this under the current legislation?

The Minister indicated that this country will be fined millions of euro in the Brown case. That is not a fact. The Minister indicated that the unfounded allegation that failure to enact the present legislation in its present form would leave the taxpayers open to multi-million euro sanctions. The truth is that any sanctions contemplated concern the Government's failure to implement current legislation.

Who has political responsibility? Where is the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine? Every Member received a brief today on this Bill. This Bill is ill-conceived as demonstrated by the fact that the Government has tabled 120 amendments to it.

This Bill has brought the whole fishing industry down to a low level by way of leaks from the Minister's Department, many unfounded allegations and classifying 6,500 fishermen as dishonest. That is an outrageous allegation.

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