Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo, a dtagann as an ngrúpa neamhspleách, anocht. Cuireann an rún ceist i lár an tseomra anocht. Is seoid náisiúnta luachmhar atá againn na hoileáin amach ónár gcósta. Tá cuid acu tréigthe agus tá pobail bhríomhar bheo ag maireachtáil ar chuid eile acu, ach ag maireachtáil le go leor deacrachtaí. Tá a fhios againn, agus tá sé ráite cheana féin, go bhfuil an iomarca déanta trí na blianta ó thaobh na n-oileán de. Tá sin le feiceáil agus le cluinstin nuair a éisteann le pobail na n-oileán iad féin. Tá siad gan na hacmhainní agus na huirlisí chun na pobail sin a dhéanamh níos bríomhaire. Tá siad ag iarraidh maireachtáil lena dteaghlaigh ar na hoileáin.

Níl dabht ar bith ach go bhfuil feabhas tagtha ar na hoileáin le linn tréimhse an Rialtas agus i rith tréimhse Rialtas Fhianna Fáil fosta. Ach, sin ráite, nuair a labhraítear le mórchuid de phobail na n-oileán deir siad nach bhfuil go leor á dhéanamh. Tá sin iontach soiléir ón neamhaird atá á dhéanamh ar na hoileáin. Chínn muid é sin i go leor rudaí difriúla. Chínn muid é ó thaobh cúrsaí iascaireachta de. Is féidir a bheith ar oileáin ag amharc amach ar an fharraige ar achan taobh ach ní cheadaítear eangach a chur amach ón mbád mar ní cheadaítear iascaireacht ar na hoileáin anois. Tá reachtaíocht agam féin agus an Teachta Martin Kenny - the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 - ar luaigh an Teachta Gallagher é. Tá an Rialtas ag cur bac ar an reachtaíocht sin.

It is important legislation which would allow for the island fishermen and fisherwomen to go back to their traditional way of life and to fish the waters around their islands. The Bill looks at best practice across Europe and what is happening in other jurisdictions. The Government, however, is using a money message. The reason it is using to declare this a financial drain on the State, that is to say how it can get away with using a money message, is that sending out the heritage licence to the fishermen on the islands would cost money as they would require stamps. That is ridiculous and is probably the highlight of the Government's disrespect for the fishing community on the islands and for the island communities themselves.

There have been some positive developments on the islands, which I welcome. These include, over different periods, piers, schools and so on. These are very positive. The reality, however, is that we are still not doing enough for the islands. The islands should not be an issue that divides this House. I ask the Government to withdraw its amendment. As Dáil Éireann, we should recognise the islands as a national treasure. Every day, as I sit down for my breakfast or dinner and look out my window, I see Gola Island. It pains me to think of it being deserted in the 1960s. It is possible that it would not have been if the right decisions had been made and the right policies put in place to support the way of life on the island at that point. We need to make sure that families that currently reside on islands and their children - whether on Árainn Mhór off Donegal, on Toraigh, or on islands off Galway, Mayo or Kerry - can continue to live and to have the opportunity to live a full and fulfilling life on the island. That opportunity is not there at this point in time in any full sense. There has been talk about promises of this, that and the other and we see the stroke of setting up a committee to counter this motion.

The island community has heard broken promises in the past. It is two years ago this week when the now Minister, Deputy McHugh - it is a pity that he left the Chamber after his speech - went to the Tory Island community and told it that he had secured €4 million for a new ferry. He told the community that the ferry would be built within 18 months to two years. There is no ferry. There is not even a line in the budget concerning the €4 million ferry. As Deputy Gallagher mentioned, the Minister also told the community that there was €2.5 million for Magheroarty and that its breakwater would be delivered next year. It is not happening. There are no plans at this point in time. The project is not advanced, yet we see press release after press release.

In reality, there are things that we can do that will support the islands. We should be coming at this from a non-party political point of view. We should recognise that the island has a unique tradition, a saibhreas of teanga and a large history of culture. It would be an absolute sin if we as parliamentarians in 2019 did not instigate the types of measure and support that are necessary to ensure that the community thrives into the future and can reach its full potential.

I commend the Independents' motion to the House. I genuinely appeal to the Minister of State at this late stage not to divide the House on the issue of the islands. Let us come together and make a positive contribution to that community, which needs not a handout, but a hand up.

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