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

I would like to speak to this amendment. I am not a member of the committee, but we have been kept apprised of the progression of the Maritime Area Planning Bill through the Dáil. I do not think there is any Deputy in the country who would have anything to say against having offshore wind energy and renewable wind energy projects. I have no issue with it whatsoever. Of course, others who have spoken on this amendment have spoken about the protection of maritime biodiversity. That is 100% correct. However, I have major concerns about the fishermen, their protection and the protection of their income. I have spoken previously about the consultation with fishermen. I would like to see where the consultation has taken place. I was at a meeting recently at the Maritime Hotel in Bantry where there were around 35 to 40 fishermen in attendance. I was not the public representative who asked if they would support the Bill because I knew the answer before the question was asked. One public representative was unwise enough to ask the question, and they answered that they would not support the Bill. My worry is that we are going to tie ourselves up in knots here in legal actions being taken to stop the progression of the legislation because the consultation has not taken place.

There is 220 million acres of sea out there. Certainly, according to The Skippermagazine, most of those acres are taken up by foreign vessels. The rights of the Irish fishers are being squeezed. They are being squeezed out of their own waters. We are going to take more acreage away from them, and a massive amount of acreage is required for the construction of these offshore wind projects. It looks like developers have picked out sites that they feel are suitable and they are going to go ahead. That will take a massive amount of sea away from the men and women who are out there fishing and are already struggling. They are asking what compensation they are going to get. They are going to lose a massive amount of sea when these projects are constructed. Will they regain some of the fishing areas that have been handed over to the foreign fleets for the past 30 years? Is that where we can win back areas of ground? Is important that the Minister of State clarifies that. Most of the fishermen at the meeting I attended are members of the Irish south-west fishermen's co-operative organisation. They were 100% against any developments that are planned at sea because they feel that it will lead to a massive loss in income for them. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could allay their fears. Better consultation needs to be undertaken out there to ensure the Government brings people like that with it.

Marine biodiversity is a huge issue and we need to ensure that it is protected. However, the income of fishermen is currently at an all-time low thanks to the passing of the massively negative Brexit deal that was done against the Irish fishermen. There are further worries that they could lose more acreage of sea out there. There was good engagement on Committee Stage, but I think we need to look outside the committee and bring the people of this country with us on this issue. If the Government can win that battle, I will be 100% behind it. It is going to be a big struggle, because there is a lot of suspicion on the part of Irish fishers in relation to politics in this country. I think it is an issue that this Government will be unable to tackle. Perhaps I am wrong. However, on the developments that are going to be happening at sea, the fishers want clarity and have asked for it. They made it very clear that they are totally opposed to the legislation until they get that clarity. The Government will struggle to bring them along with it, but it cannot walk away and turn its back on them and expect them to accept another blow to their income. While we have to protect marine areas and marine biodiversity, we must protect the fishers out there who are going to lose heavily as a result of this legislation. Perhaps the Minister of State can clarify that point.

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