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

The Taoiseach mentioned the weighing issue and suggested it is the business of the SFPA. The bottom line is that the SFPA and the Minister knew in December that there was a crisis. They did not consult with the industry and they are only doing so now when it is too late. Listening to the Taoiseach today convinces me that the Government does not have a plan for fishing other than to kick the can down the road until next year. All the fishermen are being fed is spin and more spin, going around in circles and leading them to a crisis protest tomorrow.

Only last week the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, stated incorrectly to the Dáil that the control plan is at public consultation. This is incorrect as only white fish and shellfish plans are at public consultation. Pelagic fishing is excluded from the consultation and is not part of any proposals. He also stated that the SFPA would submit the control plan to the European Commission. This is incorrect and misleading as section 43 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 states it is the function of the Minister to submit the control plan to the European Commission following a Cabinet decision on that plan. No control plan can be submitted to the European Commission by the SFPA. This kind of spin to our fishermen is why we are in the mess we are in today.

I plead with the Taoiseach to give us an honest answer. How does the Government propose to immediately address the incomes and the livelihoods of thousands of Irish fishermen who will face an enormous drop in income or face losing their jobs? I again ask the Taoiseach not to insult the fishermen of Ireland by mentioning decommissioning.

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