Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendmentNo. 142:

In page 43, to delete lines 32 to 43, to delete pages 44 to 46 and in page 47, to delete lines 1 and 2.

Last year, this House began the process of criminalising fishermen. Section 42 goes further in this regard. It is yet another instance where we are returning to legislation that was dealt with only a short time ago. The Minister obviously got it wrong in his own view and in terms of his agenda.

This section grants significant additional powers to fishery protection officers and the Garda Síochána. It is included among provisions relating to unrelated issues. This legislation was presented to the world as being aimed at gangland crime and drug dealers. Yet, it includes provisions in respect of fishermen. I do not understand why such provisions are included in this legislation. I agree we need to regulate the fishing industry and ensure those involved do not break the law. However, to equate a person who has exceeded his or her fishing quota with a person who brings into this country €500,000 or €1 million worth of drugs or who has shot innocent bystanders is stretching things a bit.

My amendment seeks the deletion of this section. If this provision was presented in another format, in a more reasonable fashion which does not seek to decimate the fishing industry by allowing hoover-ships and other countries to denude our fishing stocks, I might have some sympathy for it. However, its inclusion in this legislation will result in more people being forced out of the industry and to more clashes between fishermen trying to make ends meet and fisheries protection officers who seem to have a habit of going after the smaller fisherman rather than those who have bought, with the benefit of major grants, hoover-ships which are hoovering up fishing stocks in the Atlantic. The Government and European Union should never have allowed this to happen.

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