Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister knows the position of Sinn Féin and the Independent Deputies to my left on this Bill. We are not opposed to penalty points and neither is the fishing industry. We have stated that repeatedly but the system must be fair. This scheme is not fair and we have made that point previously. We have introduced this amendment because allowing the future livelihoods of fishermen to depend on the loose "balance of probabilities" is wrong. This would raise serious questions in any other area of a person's work life and why it should be different for the fishing industry is a mystery to us all.

Has the Minister met any fishing representatives who believe they are being treated fairly in this Bill? We certainly have not met any. We have sought to address the unfairness by replacing the words "on the balance of probabilities" with "beyond a reasonable doubt" but have encountered nothing but resistance from the Minister. In terms of the purpose of this group of amendments, penalty points and serious infringements must be determined on the basis of beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the very basis of any law. Fishermen are entitled to that, at the very least. It is outrageous that the fishing industry is being treated in this way. I ask the Minister to consider accepting these amendments.

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