Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

As an island, our nation's character is defined by our relationship with the sea. Fishing in our coastal communities is an integral part of our island and community life. Members have spoken of the battering the fishermen have taken for some time. I endorse Deputy Connick's comments on the efforts made by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, since they were appointed. It must also be acknowledged their predecessors laid much of the groundwork for them. The time they have given to this issue, particularly considering how recently they were appointed, is a good sign. The ministerial team will have my full support.

The issues have been dealt with but we must identify solutions. It is unbelievable that in these times of healthy eating the promotion of fish as a health food is slipping. The marketing fund for fish promotion needs to be increased. We need to change whatever rules on branding need to be changed and we need to sell the benefits of fish as a health food. We need to ensure people realise the fish they are buying comes from Irish waters, is healthy and is supporting local communities. The increase in the number of organic markets around the country is testimony that people are willing to support local produce. With proper branding, there is no reason Irish wild seafood should not be popular.

The functions of the protection agency need to be reviewed or at least the manner in which it carries out those functions. The agency gives an impression of authority and arrogance and this was addressed at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food a few weeks ago. At a time when there are so many other pressures on fishermen, we could do without such an attitude. The agency needs to adopt a more co-operative attitude when dealing with fishing communities.

The recent announcement by the Minister for Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, of the new rural investment fund which will be expended through the Leader programme, is timely. As Leader plans are currently being finalised around the country, specific attention should be given to fishing communities in relevant Leader plans and funding should be targeted specifically at those communities. Investment could be targeted at infrastructure, retraining, marketing or tourism promotion. It would be a shame if in the current climate the opportunity to influence those Leader plans were to be lost. I ask that the Ministers engage with Deputy Ó Cuív's Department and with the local development companies around the country to ensure such attention.

The former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Coughlan, initiated a review of the 2006 legislation which has caused so much anger and hurt in the fishing communities. They are being branded as criminals for doing a job that comes naturally to them. We need to complete that review as soon as possible and ensure the issues are dealt with while still retaining laws to protect the fishermen from their more dodgy colleagues, as it were.

There are still issues associated with the taxation of the drift-net scheme. Those issues have been accentuated in light of the different taxation treatment of the decommissioning scheme. Fishermen who had no option but to give up drift-net fishing for salmon were taxed on the compensation and some have yet to be advised on the applicable rate. I ask that attention be paid to this issue and to communicating with people. We are in the tax year in which money is due to be paid on the drift-net scheme.

As Deputy after Deputy has said, it is absolutely criminal in this day of food shortages and starvation that the discard scheme is allowed to continue. Deputy Connick's solution which is to allow them to land that fish and log it as discard but allow it into the food chain, is necessary. It is even more ludicrous that we have to ask for this to be done in this day and age.

I wish the Ministers well next week. Their work to date will stand to them. I hope the decisions made last week will not hinder that work in finding a good deal for Irish fishermen. I have complete faith in their ability to do so.

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