Dáil debates

Thursday, 21 November 2019

Report on Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017: Motion

 

5:50 pm

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Connolly for letting me in ahead of her. I am under a bit of pressure for time. I welcome the report. My party supported this Bill on previous Stages and we support the report today. We recognise that this is an excellent initiative to maintain sustainable, traditional fishing methods while facilitating a format to manage docks and quotas while having minimal interference on the total allowable catch under European rules. I commend the committee that prepared the report, including Deputies Martin Kenny, Thomas Pringle and others, as well as my colleague, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, who has spoken on the subject many times. I bow to his superior knowledge on the issue and he highly recommends that we endorse this initiative. As always, there are some technical amendments that may be tabled if this Bill proceeds to Committee Stage. All of these issues and concerns that have been raised can be tackled on Committee Stage. Where there is a will, there is a way, and I am sure the way can be found.

I know the Minister has read into the record a number of letters to the committee, particularly to Deputy Martin Kenny, outlining the reasons why a money message may be put forward. I do not necessarily accept those reasons but I welcome the fact that the Minister wrote to the Deputy, because I have introduced many Private Members' Bills that did not get any letter or response from the Government. A letter to say no is better than no letter at all. I commend the Minister on that. Maybe he will ask his colleagues to take up a similar approach to other matters. Deputy Penrose is from the midlands more so than I but, as Deputy Martin Kenny said in previous debates, we all have an affinity with coastal communities, fisherman and traditional ways of life. I grew up in a coastal community, in Courtown Harbour in County Wexford, where boxes of whelk, periwinkles, mackerel or even sea bass on occasion were never too far from the house or home or indeed the kitchen table. My grandfather was very fond of fresh seafood and ran a hotel in Courtown Harbour. It is certainly an industry that I had some familiarity with as a child, if not today. Fisheries have always been part of Ireland's economic well-being. This Bill contains provisions on quotas and allowable catches. It is fair to say that our agricultural sector was protected, preserved and boosted but at that this was at the expense of our fisheries sector.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.