Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I am grateful to my colleagues for allowing me to speak on an issue that is of profound importance to this country, especially to the people of its coastal areas. I want to speak on behalf of my community in County Wexford, especially the fishing village of Kilmore Quay and right across the southern coast to Ballyhack and other places.

It is clear that Ireland has had an extraordinary boom over the last 15 to 20 years. Most sectors of our community have blossomed and thrived in that period. There are colder winds now and there is belt tightening and anxiety. However, what is happening to the fishing industry and to fishing communities is unprecedented in my time in this House. I have never seen the devastation of a whole community as I have witnessed recently. Problems are now arising for hard working people who take their lives in their hands to provide this nation with fish. They cannot simply earn a living at present. What has happened is immoral and wrong and a number of things need to be done.

I have the greatest respect for the newly appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but the truth is that agriculture is a full-time job. We need a Cabinet rank marine Minister to recognise the scale of the issues to be addressed in our coastal zones and find solutions. It is not good enough to say the pass was sold in the early 1970s. The deal we got when joining the Common Market in 1972 did not focus on fisheries. We put all our eggs in the basket of agriculture, while the fisheries industry was abandoned. We got a bad deal for fisheries back then, but we need a decent deal now if those communities are to survive.

It has been said the fuel issue is the last straw, which it is. However, fishermen know they cannot make a living from fishing under the current regime. The notion of catching fish, letting it die on board and then dumping it for fear of being pursued by a fisheries inspector for a criminal offence is unconscionable. It does not happen elsewhere and it should not happen in this country.

We need to have a Cabinet ranked Minister for fisheries. We need a clear plan to help people who are desperate right now. I spoke to a fisherman in my constituency when I was canvassing for the Lisbon treaty. He showed me coal in the boot of his car that he trawled up while fishing and told me that he brings it home to put on the fire in order to save money on fuel. That is the extent of the pressure. I am dealing with banks about the foreclosure of mortgages and I am dealing with people who cannot pay their ESB bills. I hope the Minister and the Minister of State understand that of all the people under pressure right now in Ireland, none is under greater pressure than the fishing communities. The House needs to show solidarity with them through taking exceptional measures that I hope will flow from this debate.

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