Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy McHugh.

This is the first time I have heard it stated that the €42 million for decommissioning was "wholly inadequate". The Minister's predecessor was glorying in the fact that €42 million had been set aside for decommissioning and the current Minister has admitted this amount is wholly inadequate. I agree with the Minister that the amount is wholly inadequate. The Minister may correct me if I am wrong but I am led to believe his initial discussions with Europe regarding putting a package together for the fishermen has proven far from successful. Deputy Broughan noted that the French ministry has put €100 million into a fund for its fishing industry. I understand the Minister has been advised by Europe that he can put a fund in place but from his own resources and not from Europe. I hope I am wrong but if I am correct I hope the Minister will take it upon himself to put the fund in place for fishermen.

Many issues need to be dealt with for the long-term survival of the fishing industry. We need to sort out the fishing industry now because the long-term viability of the fishing industry will not be an issue in a matter of months because it will be gone. The tie-up is the only solution package that could be put in place to help fishermen immediately. Illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing off the Irish and Scottish coasts has a value of €7 billion, an unbelievable figure, considering the world-wide figure is supposed to be €10 billion.

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority attended a recent meeting of the joint committee. Its budget is €15 million and it has 70 staff. I asked the delegation that day whether the authority had a boat. They answered that the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority did not have a boat. They wait on the shore. I describe them as they were described to me by fishermen, as Ninjas. A fishermen docked at port one evening and four fisheries officers from the authority ganged up on him. He described them as Ninjas. Each had their own four-wheel drive vehicle but they do not have a boat to go out and catch anyone fishing illegally on our shores. They leave that to the Naval Service. When I asked them how many boats had they boarded, they did not answer. I suspect they did not board any boats which the Naval Service had boarded.

Several Deputies referred to discards. The figure of anywhere from 31% to 90% discards in the west of Ireland and Scotland is crazy. A communication on discards was adopted in 2007. This was a policy to reduce unwanted by-catches and discards in European fisheries. What were the consequences of this policy?

Licensing is an issue that needs to be resolved sooner rather than later. I also refer to labelling of Irish fish products. I support the Acting Chairman's call in his contribution for a dedicated Front Bench senior Minister for fisheries. Currently, the fisheries brief is spread over three Departments. I suggest it be co-ordinated under one senior ministry to ensure a secure, long-term industry.

See this speech in context