Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for bringing this extremely important issue to the floor of the House for debate. It is rather strange that we are discussing it again in 2020. As Deputy Mac Lochlainn outlined, the statutory instrument referred to in the motion was annulled by the Fianna Fáil Party in May 2018, in accordance with the proposal put forward by former Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher. Many speakers have made the point that fishers are not opposed to the introduction of penalty points but they want whatever system is introduced to be fair.

The point is often made in discussions in this House that a bad law is an unjust law. In this instance, families' livelihoods could be taken away from them on the basis of some absolutely ridiculous provisions. Specifically, the statutory instrument provides for the imposition of sanctions that would remove the livelihood of fishers for alleged infringements of which they may be found guilty on the balance of probability. Any such sanctions would require proof beyond a reasonable doubt in any other circumstance. One could not make it up. The Government is proposing that people should lose their livelihood on the basis of a probability or belief that they have done something wrong.

I was surprised to note that my fellow Cork East representative and then Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, voted against the proposal to annul the statutory instrument in May 2018. He and other Deputies in the area represent fishermen from Youghal, Ballycotton, Gyleen, Roches Point and all the way to Cobh. I appeal to the Government to do the right thing and address the need for fairness for fishermen and their families. We need to support this motion, annul the statutory instrument and get things done right.

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