Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Deputy Perry has outlined a detailed prescription. The concept is a valuable one. We have been saying from the beginning that all the stakeholders must be involved in the management of stocks. I hope before he leaves office the Minister will do the same for our country. Two valuable reports on fisheries have been prepared by Mr. Padraic White, which all of us on this side of the House use frequently.

The framework document for Scottish fisheries, to which I referred on Committee Stage, is impressive in that it tries to involve stakeholders directly in what it calls a virtuous circle of conservation, strict management of stocks, support for profitable enterprises and close monitoring and support for coastal communities. There was some controversy about a number of grants provided by the outgoing Minister to Greencastle, which is in his neighbouring constituency in Donegal. I do not begrudge Greencastle its funding because it is a small port where the fishermen are struggling to make a living. I would like to see what was provided for Greencastle replicated around the coast so that we have more supports rather than less.

The Scottish Parliament — many Scots would like to have an independent government within the EU — is trying to create this virtuous circle, the key element of which is to have all the stakeholders, including fishermen, producers and all the handlers of fish involved in a broad way. What Deputy Perry is seeking to do is to try to give legislative effect to this concept. I am not sure how all the details would work but we would probably have a system similar to the Spaniards, which appears to operate effectively. Their famous co-operatives have a wide remit across the economy arising from the profitability of fishing, about which we have some reservations. Nevertheless, there has been deep involvement across the economy arising from a co-operative approach between the Spanish Government, the local government in Galicia and the company.

The amendment, which proposes to replicate this concept in Ireland, would be valuable. Deputy Ferris referred to the men and women of Fenit, a famous port in North Kerry, and how they worked together in a co-operative fashion. There was a similarly active co-operative in my port in Howth in the 1940s and 1950s. There have been similar efforts around the coast. The general principle of stakeholders being involved in management and conservation is a valuable one. As the Minister rightly said, without fishermen there will be no fishing communities. We did not get a chance to vote today on a number of amendments which other Deputies and I tabled in regard to conservation. As we draw to a close this evening, it is appropriate to focus on this aspect.

I commend Deputy Perry's amendment. It is a valuable initiative which Deputies should consider seriously.

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