Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht cúpla bomaite dá chuid ama a thabhairt dom chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don reachtaíocht seo atá ag dul tríd na Dála anocht. I welcome the appointment of the additional Ministers of State and, in particular, the appointment of a Minister of State who will have responsibility for fisheries and the marine. This will be the first time since 2011 that we will have such a Minister of State with full delegated authority. Going back too many years ago to 1987, I recall very well when the Taoiseach and the Government of the day appointed the first Minister for the Marine. That was a Clare man, the late Brendan Daly. I was appointed as his Minister of State. There was no necessity for delegated authority because at the time every file that came up the line to the Minister went through me first. That was the way he operated. I was back in the Department in 2004 and had responsibility for the marine. I requested delegated authority and I had authority at the time. The industry and the sector had a Minister of State to go to and it could be in contact regularly. It was decided some years ago that a Minister would take responsibility for the marine. That was the wrong decision because the marine needs a hands-on Minister of State who is available daily to deal with the sector. For this reason, I welcome the Bill.

We are at a critical stage when it comes to the fishing industry. We lost 25% of the value of our fish because of Brexit. This is a loss of €200 million to coastal communities in which there is no alternative source of employment. I recall very well former European Commissioner Michel Barnier, who was negotiating at that time, addressing this House. I met him afterwards and he looked me straight in the eye. I told him I was concerned about the future of the sector. He said I need not have any concern because he would ensure that in the negotiations on fishing and trade would be inextricably linked. They were not inextricably linked. The industry, the country and our rural communities lost out as a result of this. He said there would be no great implications. Regardless of whether he meant what he said, the fact is that there were serious implications.

I welcome the appointment of the new Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I believe he will have the support of the sector because prior to the election the sector made a case that a Minister of State with responsibility for the marine should be appointed. It lobbied extensively. I did so in my party and it is fair to say there was cross-party support for such an appointment. In his new role, the Minister of State will need the full support of the Government. That support must include additional current and capital funding. The industry employs 16,000 people in coastal regions in the north, south, east and west of the country. All of them have no alternative sources of employment. It is forgotten by those who criticise the industry that so many people are employed in the industry.

It is not all about those who are making the investment and who appear to be doing well. There are the small farmers who work in the fish factories. I remember when I was involved in processing in Killybegs years ago that it went on for weeks and weeks throughout the winter. They came in to process whitefish and pelagic fish, such as herring, mackerel and blue whiting. Of course, boarfish is becoming available now and we have a very high percentage of the quota. We do not have big quantities now, but when we do, we will have 80% of the quota. I would like to think I played no small part when I was a member of fisheries committee in the European Parliament. The industry is at very critical stage and I cannot overemphasise this. We need action from the Government and the Minister of State who, I hope, will work hand in hand with the industry over the coming weeks, months and years. I know first hand about the decline of the industry and the pressure it is under.

We in Ireland are too fond of interpreting the directives that come from Europe and European legislation in a way that is different from the interpretation in other countries. That is particularly the case when it comes to fishing, but I am sure it is no different in other Departments. I will provide an example. When we were in opposition I led out on introducing the rescinding of a statutory instrument laid before the House. I did so within 21 days and got it overturned. Unfortunately, for some reason not known to me, that was overturned some time after I left the House. We interpret the legislation in different ways. We look at it as being a criminal offence. I challenge anybody to point out instances where penalty points are dealt with as a criminal offence in other countries. They are dealt with by means of an administrative sanction, and that will be for another day. We have to look seriously at this.

I again welcome the appointment of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I know that he will engage with the fishing sector the length and breadth of the country and that he will represent us well in Europe. I have experience, not alone as a member of the European Parliament but also as a member of its fisheries committee, of attending, with delegated authority, many Council meetings at which we fought into the early hours of the morning to secure the best deal for our country and our fishers. Mar fhocal scoir, tá áthas orm go bhfuil an reachtaíocht seo ag dul tríd na Dála agus nach fada go mbeidh Aire na mara agus iascaigh againn a dhéanfaidh gach uile ní chun cuidiú leis na hiascairí sa tír seo. Cuideoidh sé ní hamháin leis na hiascairí ach leo siúd atá ag plé le próiseáil éisc sa tír.

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