Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I come back to the immediate nature of the needs of the fishing industry. The Minister spoke earlier about how other countries have different quota laws and it is very difficult for the Naval Service to regulate when boarding ships. The Minister also spoke of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, or IUU, and regulations to combat it coming in by 2010. I am talking about immediate measures.

I will suggest one such measure. We must receive EU funding but I have been told by fishermen that French and Spanish boats are working on diesel priced at 50 cent per litre, whereas Irish boats are working on diesel priced at 91 cent per litre. It seems the governments in question have implemented this measure on behalf of their fishermen.

An immediate measure which could be taken to help the fishermen and their fleet in this country is to consider harbour dues. This would be of direct benefit to the fishermen and could be looked at immediately as an instant help.

See this speech in context