Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I thank Deputies Jim O'Keeffe and Michael Creed for bringing forward this important legislation. Obviously much work has gone into putting it together. It seeks to correct the controversial Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 whose measures are unjust and unfair and which criminalises fishermen for minor technical breaches of fishing quotas. Rather than making fishermen criminals, the Fine Gael Bill seeks simply to fine them.

We realise how important the Irish seafood industry is to the country. More than 11,000 people are employed in the industry, which contributes more than €0.75 billion to the economy every year.

The Minister will be aware of the many other problems faced by fishermen on a daily basis apart from the fear of being criminalised by over-fishing. I refer to the high cost of fuel, a real issue among fishermen in my constituency, where prices have risen by at least 50% in recent years. I refer to the decline in Irish fish prices, restrictive EU fishing quotas and depleting fishing stocks. Fishermen have enough to contend with on a daily basis every time they leave port without reference to this serious issue. The proposed legislation is humane. The lives and livelihoods of ordinary people are affected and they must be preserved.

Howth Harbour, where there is a proud tradition of fishing, is in my constituency of Dublin North-East. Fishermen are not impressed with the regulator, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, which is treating them with contempt. There is a sour and poisonous relationship between fishermen and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. Trust must be introduced into the equation. This is why Deputies Creed and O'Keeffe should be commended for introducing this legislation to try to build bridges between the regulator and fishermen. Fishermen cannot continue given the way things are going at present. To a certain extent, the Minister has sold the fishermen down the Swanee. However, the Minister has an opportunity tonight to correct the record, to put things right and to fine fishermen rather than make criminals out of them. I trust the Minister will listen to and take note of what we have said on this side of the House.

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