Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

What is worse is that the intent of Brussels is being reinforced here by the actions of the State and its enforcement authorities, as is illustrated by the manner in which the sector is policed and by recent legislative changes to both the Criminal Justice Act and the Sea Fisheries Act which, in effect, criminalise fishermen in a manner not applied to any other economic sector. I stood here when the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell, referred to anybody who was caught with a small bit over quota or who had any conviction as a result of fisheries as traitors. The sell-out of the fishing sector when Ireland entered the EU was treason.

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