Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputies Pringle and Sherlock, I refer to the 30-day rule and how it compares to the rest of Europe. I was not in the previous Dáil. Those on the Opposition bench did agree to 30 days but they are surely entitled to seek an extension to help fishermen. The 30 days is not long enough. That is the idea we have been trying to change the Minister's mind about by tabling amendments. The Minister talked about money being spent in all the ports. That money should be spent. It is well-deserved and should be spent but it is not being spent on what fishermen actually need and what they are telling us.

I asked the Minister a question earlier about whether he met fishermen who supported this Bill. I had left the Chamber by the time he gave the answer; I watched it on the television and I could not believe my ears when he said that he had. He did not talk to the fisherman today who protested at the convention centre. None of them agreed with the Minister. I recall being in the committee room the day the €25 that Deputy Collins spoke about was brought up. It was just a minimal fee that fishermen could appeal with. The response the Minister gave is that he cannot fix a fee because the next Minister might not agree with it. The Minister should set a fee. Let the next Minister, whoever he or she is, worry about changing it if he or she thinks it is not good enough. At least give fishermen something in that by having a small fee of €25, they can come back and appeal something . Again, like all the other speakers, I ask the Minister to start listening to the fishing industry.

Implement the changes that they are looking for and support them.

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