Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

Perfectly good hake, monkfish and white fish are being thrown overboard. This is an issue of morality. Members of the House and the Government should consider the type of sanctions we have introduced. Our fishermen who gather fish in their nets inadvertently would prefer to take that fish home and give them away for free. It is a national disgrace. It is also a disgrace for Deputies from County Longford and those who come into this House with no knowledge of the maritime coastal communities and no knowledge of what is happening on a daily basis.

The Government should put its hands up and accept there is an issue being highlighted on this side of the House. We must bring the maritime community on-side. We must look at all aspects of the industry and try to bring the fishermen back. We have lost our fishing community through sanctions that are not workable. The common-sense argument being articulated on this side of the House is that administrative sanctions are preferable to giving fishermen a criminal record.

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