Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We found money last year when farmers were in crisis because of the fodder shortage. Money was no object in terms of dealing with that situation. It was very interesting to note that when the Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine discussed the crisis that fishermen are going through because of the recent storms, the committee room was empty. On the other hand, when the committee discussed the fodder crisis last year, one could hardly get into the room with the amount of members of the media and farming organisations there, not to mention Deputies who wanted to be seen to be supporting the farmers.

The €8 million that was allocated for repairing piers and harbours will not improve the livelihood of any of the fishermen who were affected by the recent storms and who will be affected by them again in the future. I am sad to say that I do not hold out much hope that the Minister will include any provisions in the operational programme to support fishermen. The Minister of State spoke about the financial constraints under which the country is operating but European money is available. EU money is available to support fishermen, albeit with the requirement for matching funding. Supporting fishermen with such funding would cost a lot less than if the Government was to provide funding on its own.

See this speech in context