Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy may have misunderstood me at the committee. I did not say the €5 million in hardship funding would be spread among State agencies but that I expected it could be used to leverage other funds from other Departments and agencies. This is my intention and I have spoken on a number of occasions in this regard with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, who has community funding available to him. This funding could be allocated with a view to leveraging money from various schemes to enhance the value of the €5 million hardship fund.

My Minister of State and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs have spoken on a number of occasions and I have spoken to a couple of representatives of drift-net fishermen to listen to proposals on alternative employment. When this consultation is finished, we may be able to produce a package. However, it will be very specific to the communities and very visible.

I have no function in tax matters as it is the Revenue Commissioners who decide whether an income is taxable. The independent group made the recommendation that all the compensation be paid in one tranche to assist people to move to a new business as quickly as possible, particularly those who had been deriving a large income from drift-netting. We have agreed from the beginning that if people want to spread the receipt of the payment over a two or three year period, they can do so. This would obviously have tax implications for them.

A radio interviewer told me people's livelihoods were being taken away and that they were only receiving €2,000 in compensation. The only people receiving this amount are those who have had a licence for the past six years and have not caught a salmon. Livelihoods are hardly at stake in such instances. Others are affected more severely.

Consider Deputy Perry's point on the terms of reference. The group was asked very specifically about the consequences and what recommendations it would make in view of us having to move because of scientific advice on which everyone in the House agreed. Most Members said that the Government should have moved in accordance with scientific advice two years previously. In fairness to the group, it met its terms of reference in full and without deviation.

See this speech in context