Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I will concentrate on my portfolio, fisheries, in which sector job creation opportunities have been wasted. The operational programme for fisheries, which covers the period 2007 to 2013, has yet to be implemented by the Government although it is already 2010. The money available through the programme would create and sustain jobs. It is unacceptable that the Minister of State responsible for fisheries, Deputy Killeen, who took office in May 2008, has not implemented a programme for fisheries after nearly two years in office. It is not good enough.

The Cawley report, published in early 2008, recommended an investment of €100 million in aquaculture over five years. Not one cent has been spent on it in the past five years. Aquaculture industries currently employ 2,000 people. The IFA aquaculture team was before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food some time ago and outlined the possibility that exists for creating a further 2,000 jobs in the industry. For the life of me, I do not understand how a Minister of State in office for two years has failed to produce an operational programme for fisheries.

I am informed that Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which is responsible for fisheries, returned funding to the Exchequer last year because there was not an operational programme for fisheries in place. Since there was no programme, it was unable to advance capital grant aid to some of the small industries. At present, there are 100 small coastal firms engaged in shellfish production and aquaculture that are waiting to submit applications for capital funding but there is no point in their doing so because there is no operational programme for fisheries. They want to access the funding and create jobs.

All our EU competitors have opened their operational programmes and their industries are taking full advantage of the significant market demand for farmed fish and shellfish. In the past two years, through the inaction of the Minister of State in implementing an operational programme for fisheries, there have been missed opportunities in respect of at least 500 jobs in small coastal communities.

Some €5 million was allocated in the December budget for aquaculture. How can it be spent without an operational programme for fisheries? How can any job be created or sustained without such a programme? The possibilities that exist for an additional 2,000 jobs in the aquaculture industry and for a further €100 million in export revenue cannot be realised without a programme.

Since the departure of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, we have been informed that the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Killeen, is one of the senior contenders for his post. A spade is a spade, not an earth-relocating implement. The Minister of State did not introduce the operational programme for fisheries and, by not doing so, he has adversely affected the creation of 500 jobs in the aquaculture industry.

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