Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also thank Deputy Michael Collins and the Rural Independent Group for bringing forward this vital motion. It is absolutely necessary that we have these conversations. I have no doubt that many others have had the same conversations I have had with fishers in respect of ensuring the sustainability of their industry. I know the Minister has also had engagement. He knows the issues. No more than when we talk about farming and the family farm, the main thing is to ensure the sustainability of the industry and wider fishing communities. I am thinking about the likes of Clogherhead and Carlingford and those who are involved in fishing around my home town of Dundalk.

In recent times, we have all heard the anger that exists at what has happened post Brexit.

We all know many wrongs were committed under the Common Fisheries Policy over many years in relation to the access Irish fishermen did not have to waters that were rightfully theirs and to quotas that, at least in part, were rightfully theirs. This has had a long-term impact on the industry. Many fishermen have spoken of the necessity for supports to keep the industry going rather than trying to decommission or end it. These are the things we need to do.

The Rural Independent Group put it fairly straight. This is straightforward. There is a need to put in €12 million. We are talking about European support funds and the EMFAF and about ensuring it gets into the hands of those involved in the industry. There are huge qualms concerning money lost through administration. I accept the need for administration but we need to look at this. There are major issues here. We all accept that those involved in the fishing industry have been drawn the short straw over many years. We need to rectify that. We need fairness. They cannot take up all the slack. In the Brexit negotiations, once again it was their back on which many deals were done. We need to equalise the playing field and there is a requirement for the Minister to do that.

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