Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I compliment Deputies O'Keeffe and Creed for introducing the Bill to the Dáil. I call on the Government to accept it at this late stage and to make the necessary amendments on Committee Stage. It is wrong that if small fishermen make a mistake, they and their family members could be regarded as criminals if they are caught over-fishing and charged. As Deputy McGinley and other speakers have stated, they could have a criminal record for the remainder of their lives.

I wish to put on record certain matters relating to the west. Fishing was a very lively industry at one time. However, now it is a tourism attraction because the Fianna Fáil Government has destroyed the industry. It has sold it down the drain to Europe over the years. It is outrageous that there are Spanish boats coming into our areas, taking our fish out of the country and making money on it.

I compliment Deputy John Perry who, on a previous occasion, introduced a good policy in respect of fishing. He travelled to Blacksod Bay, Mayo, Donegal and throughout the country to the south east. He met fishermen, listened to them and he realised what they sought. His policy could have worked.

I compliment my colleague, the man that got the pier extension for Darby's point. Only for my colleague, the pier in Darby's point would not have been completed in 1994. He continued to raise the matter in the Dáil when I was not here to do so myself. He delivered a result and I compliment Deputy Sheehan on the record tonight in this regard.

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