Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleague, Deputy Stanley, I am very supportive of the Bill. We will facilitate its passage through the House without any difficulties. Effectively, the Bill does little more than give actual powers of prosecution to Inland Fisheries Ireland. It puts the onus of responsibility on the latter to ensure that our rivers are properly policed, to protect the environment of those rivers and, I hope, to ensure that rivers in decline are facilitated and restocked through hatcheries and so forth.

I was a member of the agriculture, marine and fisheries committee when the drift net offshore salmon fishermen were taken off the seas. At that time, I argued strongly against the move. I still believe that it was a retrograde step. They became the victims of an agenda to place all of the blame on drift net fishermen. My understanding since is that, despite counters on the rivers and so forth, the stocks have not increased. Obviously, the problem was elsewhere but nobody was prepared to face up to it. Instead, the easy victims were the fishermen and fisherwomen. However, that is for the past. Obviously, those in coastal communities paid a huge price and suffered a loss of income.

I fully appreciate and understand the tremendous contribution to our economy of a very vibrant tourist angling sector. That goes without saying. The value of fish caught in rivers and put back has a huge impact on many parts of rural Ireland, particularly on the west and not least in Donegal. I had the opportunity of being in Donegal on the day after Mr. Martin McGuinness's funeral. I travelled all over the county and met local fishermen. I also with angling groups in Killybegs - people from the Rosses and Fintown angling clubs who fish the Gweebarra River. What I find very disturbing is that a case involving three of their members - John Boyle, Peadar Ó Baoill and John Boyle Reilly - has been before the High Court for some time. I am sure the Minister of State is as well acquainted with that situation as I. There is support, I imagine, right across the divide in the House for giving Inland Fisheries Ireland legal powers to police and look after the rivers. However, pursuing this case certainly makes no sense if Inland Fisheries Ireland wants to build confidence and support in areas in which this is happening. These cases are sending out the wrong message. For many, it amounts to a form of bullying by Inland Fisheries Ireland. We also have to take into account the huge financial burden on the families of these three fishermen, as well as the emotional effects it has on their families and wider families. It would be a very good statement on the part of Inland Fisheries Ireland if these cases were not proceeded with. My understanding is that they will have no legal standing because we are only now giving powers of legal standing Inland Fisheries Ireland

There needs to be huge investment in the sector in order to restock the rivers. There is also a need to ensure that they are restocked in a way that they will become increasingly vibrant for our tourism economy, as well as from a recreational point of view for Irish anglers and so forth. Therefore, the Minister of State has our support on this. I would like to see the cases of the three Donegal men currently before the courts dispensed with in order to facilitate a good environment going forward. We support the passage of the Bill through the House.

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