Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, acting as Minister for fisheries, signed a statutory instrument which introduced a penalty points system on fishing fleets a few weeks ago while the Dáil was in recess when we had no chance to debate or stop that or at least submit amendments. Those penalty points have the potential to do major harm to the Irish fishing industry. I remind the Dáil that Fianna Fáil opposed a penalty points system when the former Minister, Deputy Creed, tried to introduce one some time back. What is the standing in law of these new penalty points following the signing of the statutory instrument? Can the statutory instrument be withdrawn by this Government? I call on the Minister, as a member of the Government, to do a U-turn on this and withdraw the statutory instrument so it can come before the Dáil for proper debate. Can he do that for the fishermen of Ireland?

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