P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this very important matter to be raised. When does the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food intend to remove the element of criminal prosecution of those charged under the various fisheries Acts, and will she make a statement on the matter? I see the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, was unable to come to the House but the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, whom I know very well and who has a very good, thorough knowledge of the fishing industry, will take her place here tonight. The fishermen of this country have many problems but this problem can be removed with the stroke of a pen by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food before she might depart for greener pastures in the coming week.

We seem to be the best Europeans in the EU. Not only are we implementing EU regulations, but we are penalising Irish fishermen more severely than any other member state. No other member state imposes criminal sanctions on its fishermen for these offences. There was no stipulation from the EU to criminalise Irish fishermen. Why did the Government implement such a rash measure on our Irish fishing skippers? The criminalisation of Irish fishermen must be stopped immediately. If there is an infringement of EU regulations in any other country in Europe it is dealt with at District Court level, not going as far as Circuit Court level. We criminalise Irish fishermen, which shows on their record if they travel to the United States or elsewhere abroad. No other European country does that. If the Taoiseach can ask Congress in the great USA today for an amnesty for the illegal Irish in America, I ask only for an amnesty for our Irish fishing trawler owners here.

I understand the Minister has hinted she wants to change this. I demand that the Minister remove this blatant discrimination by confirming tonight, through the Minister of State's reply, her intention to do so and to stop the criminalisation of Irish fishermen. I look forward to a positive reply from the Minister of State and I wish his superior luck in whatever might happen next week.

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