Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are accusations of ignoring the sector but the Minister outlined some of the investment which has been made for piers and harbours right from Kinsale down to Castletownbere. He has invested in the fisherman’s pontoon in Kinsale and in a pontoon in Courtmacsherry - there have been dredging works at Courtmacsherry - that is a pontoon that is used by the inshore sector. He has invested in the lower Aghada pier, which is used by the inshore sector, and in Cunnamore pier. There was an application in from Cork County Council for works at Union Hall for a barrier, which would have cut off for pier users down in Union Hall and I am glad that that application was rejected because it would have cut off access to what we call the leisure pier at Union Hall. I am happy that was rejected by the Minister.

The Minister introduced a Brexit scheme for the inshore sector, something which is not acknowledged. That original scheme was only for a six-month period and when the inshore sector approached to the Minister and asked for an extension of the scheme for the entire year, he did that and accepted it, but he will not give any acknowledgement from the Opposition on that. When I talk about the works that he had done on the piers and harbours across west Cork, he will get mud slung at him from the Opposition but they will be the first people to stand down on those piers and to put up social media posts welcoming the funding that they secured for each and every one of those piers, with absolutely no acknowledgement given to the Minister. People will, however, see through that, as will the inshore sector.

The Minister opened up the spurdog fishery.

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