James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

During the past season and as a result of Storm Ophelia last autumn fishermen have suffered severe losses to their equipment, in particular, their pots, ropes and coils. That has caused a set back with respect to their working hours, profits and to the sustainability of many of those fishermen and their families. The programme for Government commits to the developing the blue economy as a priority. As a result of the long winter and the damage caused by Storm Ophelia, there has been a set back in the development of the blue economy. Small boats suffered especially and my county of Wexford was very badly hit. It would have taken many small boats 14 days of consistently getting out to get those pots back in time ahead of that storm without overloading those boats. That is assuming the weather held well, but at that time fishermen were only getting out three or perhaps four days a week. They would have needed almost a month's notice to get out and bring their pots back in. In those circumstances is there anything specific the Minister can do for those fishermen who lost their lobster pots and the crab fishermen and shrimp fishermen who suffered losses to their equipment and a serious financial set-back?

See this speech in context