Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I am glad to have the opportunity to address the crisis faced by the fishermen of Ireland, and of my county, Wexford. On 19 May I was invited to a public meeting at Kilmore Quay with more than 40 fishermen and fisherwomen to discuss the biggest crisis they have ever faced. Several issues were brought to my attention.

The fishermen are concerned with the price of fuel which makes it impossible to cover fleet expenses. Fuel costs have increased by over 320% in the past five years, 40% alone since January. They ask for the Common Fisheries Policy to be urgently reviewed to allow proper management of Irish fisheries. The CFP, they claim, has not protected our waters and is most harsh on Irish fishermen who have unworkable quotas. The EU allows fish to be imported into its market while we cannot sell our own.

They want the repeal of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 which makes criminals of fishermen for fisheries offences. They also want the over-policing and over-regulation of the industry by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service, while foreign vessels, according to them, fish unhindered, to be examined. The final issue they raised concerned decommissioning of trawlers and what it will mean for fishermen who are not boat-owners. What packages will be made available to them?

At the meeting I was given an example of the square-up. The majority of fishermen are share fishermen, meaning their wages are based on the share of the catch landed. The square-up system awards skippers and crew who do well with catches. However, it can vary wildly; if a boat does not go to sea, there are no wages.

In 2004, the landing of 235 boxes of fish from seven days at sea would be valued at €25,986. From this the crew would share 41%, which came to €7,000. The skipper cleared €1,615; the deckhands, €1,000. If this is compared with today's prices, the equivalent catch would yield €20,741 with the crew's share reduced to €2,419. This would leave the skipper and the deck-hands with a third of their 2004 income, €559 and €372, respectively. No family can sustain themselves, let alone pay a mortgage, on that level of income. This is a wage earned after spending seven days at sea.

The Kilmore Quay fishermen also raised the discard. With half the world starving, discarding catches is a scandal, raising moral questions. I cannot understand why fishermen cannot land the discard and log it. The Ministers could address this in their meetings with our European colleagues.

Deputy Broughan made a blatant attack on the recently appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen. I, however, commend them and acknowledge their, and their predecessors, efforts. Following my meeting in Kilmore Quay on 19 May, on 21 May a meeting, chaired by the Acting Chairman, was held in Agriculture House where these issues were raised. A special meeting was convened for the following week. On 28 May, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority was brought before the Oireachtas committee. The following day, 29 May, a special meeting was held between the two Ministers and the Federation of Irish Fishermen. Two weeks later a subsequent nine-hour meeting was held. Both Ministers attended a European Summit meeting in Strasbourg yesterday. These are commendable efforts.

It is important the House fully supports them in their efforts to deliver a vital deal for our fishermen to ensure the industry's survival. I wish them every success in their ongoing work to protect and grow the Irish fishing industry. I ask them to address the difficulties over which Ireland has control. It must also include the implementation of the national strategic plan, an amendment to Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 and dedicated funding for our coastal communities. At a time of crisis in the fishing industry, we must stand with our fishermen, their families and communities to ensure the survival of this much-needed industry for Ireland.

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