Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am happy to respond to the points raised by the Deputy. With regard to the family not knowing and therefore not benefitting, the scheme was advertised in a number of industry publications - the Fishing News in June 2001, the Irish Skipper in July 2001 and in the Marine Times in August 2001. It is a matter of opinion as to whether advertising in the trade papers is the appropriate way to proceed, but that is what was done. There is a conflict of viewpoint in that regard. The Ombudsman also spoke about a discretionary element, which is something on which people would have very diverse and conflicting views.

With regard to the Deputy's point that a number of people were notified, the Department had in its records at that time information relating to 16 cases. The 16 people in those cases were notified. It should be borne in mind that only two of those 16 were successful so it cannot be said that the Department wrote to people and they were subsequently successful. I also understand that the Department notified the representative organisations at the time. A very strong case can be made on this issue. The final point made by Deputy Sherlock was that I am disregarding the Ombudsman's report. I am taking full account of that report. I have a difference with it regarding interpretation at various points, but that remains the position.

See this speech in context