Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

The farming and fisheries lobbies are two of the most significant lobbies in Ireland. The votes of farmers and fishermen were instrumental in deciding the outcome of the Lisbon treaty referendum. Fishermen were worried about issues like decriminalisation, quotas and the dumping of fish at sea. I am pleased that the Minister, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, have met representatives of the fishing federation. We need to admit that we have been misrepresenting an entire industry at local level — not just at EU level. I respect the groups in question. Although the farming lobby secured a last-minute deal, I believe most farmers did not vote "Yes" in the Lisbon treaty referendum. Many farmers will say that. Should we not try to spread out the workload of the Ministers and Ministers of State who are working on behalf of the farming and fisheries lobbies? It is not right that a single Minister — the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith — is trying to fight the case for fishermen and farmers at two separate tables.

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