Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

Europe is not the problem, neither has it been over the past 20 months. The problem lies within the Cabinet between the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the other two relevant Ministers. There are real environmental concerns at stake, but it must be recognised that this programme has been stalled for 20 months and needs to be activated.

On another issue, in previous times the vast majority of funding for the operational programmes came from Europe. This time only €42 million of the €126 million will come from Brussels and most of this has been committed to decommissioning. Will the Minister of State say if there is a question as to whether the funds will be made available in the current climate? As I have said the problem is not with Europe, but within the Cabinet and there are hundreds of jobs at stake. I plead with the Minister of State, on behalf of the fishermen around the country, and urge him to act on this. It is 20 months late, and that is a definition of incompetence.

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