Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I want to ask two brief questions. The Minister mentioned the Common Fisheries Policy. What efforts are being made to level the playing field from the perspective of control and enforcement across all member states to ensure that penalties imposed are harmonised and that Irish fishermen are not discriminated against? Has any progress been made in investigating the discriminatory ban on Irish commercial vessels landing sea bass, which does not apply to other EU states fishing in Irish waters?

Also, is any extra funding available to be directed without delay to investigation of and research into alternatives to diesel for fishing boats? The Leas-Cheann Comhairle got a communication from a fisherman in Kilmore Quay who said that if this is not done, there will shortly be no white fish to market because it will not be cost effective to catch it. He said that is not exaggeration or a case of fishermen whinging and that we should investigate now for the future.

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