P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

We need to find a way of supporting deck hands who have spent 20 or 30 years fishing the waters off our coast. While Ireland has 24% of the EU's fisheries area, under the terms of its membership of the EU it is allowed just 4% of the Union's total catch. I welcome the recent announcement that an independent appeals officer is to be appointed to examine fishermen's complaints about the operations of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. I have not seen the terms and conditions of the officer's appointment, however. I hope this measure will help to forge a new and balanced relationship between fishermen and Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority officials. I remind the Minister that self-praise is no praise. The sooner he delivers the goods, the better for Irish fishermen. Pious words butter no bread for our fishermen.

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