Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very hard to understand the resistance of the Minister, the Department and the Government. It shows a total lack of willingness to work with the fishing people and their communities and a total disregard for them. It is upsetting to hear the record back and to hear the way a person can change his views, opinions and outlook on a subject just because he moves from this side of the Chamber to that side. It is very worrying and if that is the cost of power and of being in office, then it is a very heavy weight. It is a tough anchor to have hanging off a person if that is the cost of the anchor. It will not be forgotten when people disregard those they are supposed to represent. It does not make sense and it is not right.

We have to remember that this is predominantly an agricultural country. We appreciate tourism and everything else but the fundamental things that we had when we had nothing else were farming, fishing and people just working, trying to make work for themselves. Our job as legislators, in every way and in every fashion, is to help those people, to assist them and make life easier for them. If the Minister could stand up and put me in my box tonight and tell me how he is making life easier for fishermen, I would gladly bow to his experience, to his position as a Minister and would say that he is right and I am wrong but I am sorry, I cannot understand it. It does not make sense to me. When things do not make sense to me, I tell it out straight, as it is. The Minister should stand up for the fishermen and tell us that he will accept this amendment because it is a very small and humble request that we are making.

See this speech in context