Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The amendments are partitionist in the extreme, given that they seek to preclude a basic right from people of our country to fish in our territorial waters around the island. I am surprised that Deputy Michael Collins, a man from rebel-held west Cork, would be as partitionist as the amendments suggest. I am also surprised there was a verbal attack from Deputy Mattie McGrath, who stormed out the door and has not even returned to contribute in respect of his amendments. What kind of carry-on is that? In fairness, Deputies Clare Daly and Pringle and we were present to move their amendments and argue their point of view. It is disgraceful that some Deputies put their names to amendments but do not even have the decency or respect to turn up and argue their case. If they were more acquainted with the situation, they might know that there are decent fishermen in this part of our island who have licences in the Six Counties, and vice versa. It is very wrong that a person with a licence in the Six Counties and living in Arklow cannot fish in the South. We are preventing that. Restoring the voisinageagreement and trying to get everything right, in order that people will be comfortable with the outcome, is what we are trying to do.

See this speech in context