Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 6, line 8, after "area')." to insert the following:

"All existing licences granted for specific Lough sites by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will be recognised.".

Before I begin, I should like also to be associated with the message of sympathy for the crew and skipper of the Pere Charles and also the Honeydew. I knew both Tomáisín and Pat Hennessy, personally, over the years. I fished in Tralee Bay with them and they were highly experienced people. The circumstances where fishermen find themselves having to meet a quota by the end of the week — if not, there is no carryover — is creating enormous problems for the whole fishing industry as people believe they must take chances in order to make a living. It is a terrible tragedy for the entire coastal area and particularly in the south east, in the Minister of State's constituency.

I want to address amendments Nos. 4 and 11. As regards amendment No. 4, after line 8, I want the following inserted: "All existing licences granted for specific Lough sites by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will be recognised." I find amendment No. 5, as put by Deputy Broughan on behalf of the Labour Party, however, to be far more substantial and I will be supporting this and withdrawing amendment No. 4.

Amendment No. 11 seeks, in page 8, line 36, after "licence)." to insert the following: "The position and limits of existing licensed areas will be retained by the existing licence holder.". I have met with the fishermen from the Foyle. Having listened intently to them and given that many of them have long-standing stakes in that they have been involved in aquaculture in that area for quite a time, built up a small industry and invested considerable time and money in it, it is only right and proper that the right of tenure they have established over the years be protected. It is somewhat similar to what happened in Wexford Harbour where the licensees in that area had their rights protected for the future. In the circumstances it is only right and proper that their efforts, given the work they have put in, be maintained. Amendment No. 11 refers mainly to the sites on which people have lived and worked in that area. They have developed them and have established sites, from the very fact that they have been working there consistently, many of them for more than ten years. I hope the Minister of State will take on board amendments Nos. 5 and 11. Amendment No. 4 has been overtaken by Deputy Broughan's amendment.

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