John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

As regards the flawed mythology used for the evaluation and the payment, the manner in which tags are issued to fishermen is totally in appropriate. In certain cases tags may be bought in five different towns without any central data record being accountable and that is the situation pertaining in a modern technologically-based economy. Does the Minister of State not agree that the €3,000 or €4,000 being paid out to the majority of drift net operators will not compensate them for their nets? The level of compensation on offer is totally inadequate. With 1,800 licence holders, to date only one third have sent in their applications. That does not augur well for the future.

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