David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The situation facing the Irish fishing sector has been well and truly set out by all of the previous speakers. I thank the Rural Independent Group for bringing forward this motion. I thank an Teachta Michael Collins and his colleagues for the work they have done. I also commend my colleague, an Teachta Mac Lochlainn, the Sinn Féin spokesperson in this area, for his efforts in engaging with the Irish fishing community in recent years. He visited Waterford last year and we met with fishermen in Helvick, Ardmore, Dungarvan and Dunmore East. We listened carefully to what those fishermen and fisherwomen had to say.

I will home in on a few issues in my constituency of Waterford. I have raised all of these issues with the Minister previously but they have not been resolved. The first issue is that the landing rights for British and northern registered vehicles in Dunmore were removed in December 2020 following the Brexit trade and co-operation deal. I have raised the issue with the Minister, as have an Teachta Mac Lochlainn and some of my constituency colleagues, and there has still been no progress. Why has there been no progress? The most recent response I received from a parliamentary question on the issue suggested that the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, is still examining the matter. In God's name, how long does it take to examine the matter? We are talking about people's livelihoods and the opportunity to invest in a harbour and a coastal fishing community. These landings provide a significant economic boost to the village of Dunmore. I ask the Minister to look again at that issue.

I have also raised with the Minister the issue of vacant apartment buildings in Dunmore East. Some of those buildings have gone through tendering processes but they are still not being used. What is being done about that? It makes no sense whatsoever. When I visit villages such as Dunmore, Passage East, Cheekpoint, Dungarvan and Helvick, and talk to fishermen in those areas, they ask me why they cannot fish.

We held a successful public meeting in Waterford last year that was attended by approximately 400 people. One of those who attended was a well-known Dunmore fisherman named Jimmy Byrnes. He passionately addressed the meeting and set out the importance of fishing and the pride he and his fellow fishermen have in their communities and those traditions. He was standing up for his heritage and that of many others. If the people in the Department had half as much passion as Mr. Byrnes and many others, we would have a far better fishing industry and better coastal communities than we currently have.

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