Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I wish to share time with Deputy Kathleen Lynch.

I commend the Fine Gael Party on introducing this critical motion. Two weeks ago in the House, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I outlined the horrendous position facing fishing families, including in Howth in my constituency, Greencastle, Burtonport, Killybegs, Rossaveal, Dingle, Castletownbere, Union Hall, Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay, Clogherhead and smaller ports, of which there are 30 to 35 in the State.

Fishermen cannot afford to go to sea because the price of fuel has increased by as much as 50% in the past four or five months and an increasing number of them face the bleak prospect of unemployment. The worryingly high level of cheap imported fish from Africa and Asia and the historically destructive impact of the Common Fisheries Policy quota system have also had a devastating effect on fishing communities.

More recently, fishermen have felt under siege from the new regime of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority based in Clonakilty. I have received many e-mails illustrating this point, with the actions of the new authority described by some of my constituents as akin to waging a war of attrition against fishermen and attempting to criminalise a whole community. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, introduced the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority Bill and criminal penalties for what are essentially administrative failures.

Irish fishermen continually see foreign vessels fishing with impunity in Irish waters. In my previous role as fisheries spokesperson of the Labour Party, I and my colleagues on the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as it was known then, invigilated the Commodore of the Naval Service. It emerged from our meeting that Spanish, French and Dutch fishing fleets operate according to one law, while a different law applies to the Irish fleet, in other words, our fishermen are treated much more harshly than foreign fishermen.

Many fishermen and their families believe they have no option but to accept the recent decommissioning proposals, for which €43 million has been allocated. It is heartbreaking for families with a fishing tradition stretching back for generations to decide no longer to put to sea.

The Labour Party has a longstanding view of the fishing industry. In the early 1970s, for example, the great Justin Keating and others in the party believed the Common Fisheries Policy would be a disaster for Ireland. Unfortunately, this element of our relationship with Europe continues to require invigilation.

In recent weeks, the Minister had an opportunity to make a case on behalf of Irish fishermen and their families. The outcome of last week's Fisheries Council meeting was greeted with intense disappointment. It appears we must wait until 15 July at the earliest before positive steps will be taken. The Taoiseach, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Tony Killeen, failed yet again to deliver for Irish fishermen.

There is no time for prevarication. With fuel prices crippling the industry and damaging the prospects of as many as 50,000 people who depend in some way on sea fisheries, short-term support is needed. I fail to understand the reason the Minister chose to rebuff the request by the Federation of Irish Fishermen to introduce some short-term measures. It was an incomprehensible decision.

The Minister's lethargy and inaction are in marked contrast with the conduct of President Sarkozy who will visit Ireland next week. Speaking in a French fishing port, the President stated the French fishing tradition was an integral part of the French nation which would be defended, come what may. Unfortunately, Government incompetence on the Lisbon treaty and, subsequently, on the fisheries issue has allowed circumstances to arise in which our maritime tradition, which is integral to the nation, is in a desperate state. The Government has failed to act.

I ask the Minister to outline what positive measures will be taken. Money must be put on the table as part of a vigorous response to the problem. It is pointless to state decisions will be taken in two or three weeks when the House will be in recess and the fishing industry in tatters. It is time for action and the Minister must live up to his responsibilities.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I congratulate the Fine Gael Party on introducing the motion and thank my colleague, Deputy Broughan, for affording me speaking time.

Those working at sea are employed in one of the most regulated sectors but among the poorest working conditions in the world. Approximately 12,000 people work in the fishing industry in Ireland. This figure, which includes those who work at sea, on the quayside and in fish factories and processing facilities, is not to be sneezed at. Ireland's fishing ports include towns such as Union Hall, Kilmore Quay, Castletownbere, Kinsale, Youghal, Ballycotton and Killybegs, all of which are in peripheral areas with few other industries. For this reason, it is vital we take seriously the crisis facing the industry.

One does not often see fishermen blockading ports and they do not tie up their boats unless absolutely necessary, whether because quotas have been filled or it is pointless to go to sea to fish a livelihood. We must take seriously recent actions by fishermen by offering an aid package. It is no longer good enough that our main competitors, France and Spain, provide state aid, while Irish fishermen do not receive any assistance. We would all prefer if, under a common European policy on state aid, assistance would be provided on equal terms across the fishing industry. Failing this, however, it is the Government's duty to step up to the plate and take responsibility, as the French and Spanish Governments have done.

Recent events have provided the first test of the negotiating skills at EU level of two new Ministers. Unfortunately, neither the Minister nor his Minister of State has done well. We remain hopeful, however, that something can be done and the Minister and Minister of State will enter new negotiations. It is a widely held view in the fishing industry that fisheries were the victim of the Common Agricultural Policy and formed part of a trade off in the early days of our negotiations with the European Economic Community. This should not hold us back because the fishing industry is as important as agriculture and must be treated as such.

Why is fish not marketed better? Other areas, for example, Scotland, have successful seafood sectors because they had successful marketing campaigns. People working in the fishing industry live in areas where there are few, if any, other industries. It is not only a question of livelihood but also of being able to remain in the places where they live and work. Ireland would be much worse off if we allowed those engaged in the industry to drift out of it.

In every other country, breaches of regulations are considered administrative matters and subject to fines, whereas we have decided to criminalise fishermen by making breaches of regulations a criminal offence. This issue needs to be resolved. The industry is in crisis and a package of aid is needed. Fishing boats would not be tied up in ports if there was no crisis. When will Ministers take the crisis seriously and act on behalf of fishermen and maritime communities? Why is the Minister not in Brussels continuing to press the case of our fishermen? Other countries take their fishing industries seriously. For example, France considers it part of its entire agri-aquaculture industry. France insists on defending it and has been successful in doing so. Why can Ireland not do the same? Fishermen throughout the country are monitoring this debate and wondering why the Ministers with responsibility in respect of this matter do not take the industry here as seriously as do their counterparts in other countries.

Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Kenneally, Kirk, Blaney and Cregan.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is agreed.

Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this motion in light of the importance of the fishing industry to Cork South-West, which I represent, and the country as a whole. The entire coastal area of my constituency that runs from Kinsale to the Dursey Sound looks out on the Atlantic Ocean. There are people in every town and village along this coastline who, in one way or another, have spent all their lives involved in the fishing industry. The main fishing ports in the area are Castletownbere, Bantry, Schull, Baltimore, Union Hall and Kinsale. I have first-hand knowledge of the importance of the fishing industry to everyone in Cork South-West, particularly to those who live along the stretch of coastline to which I refer.

This is a timely debate in respect of an extremely important sector which is experiencing very difficult times. According to the Cawley report, the Irish seafood industry generates total annual revenues in excess of €700 million and provides direct employment for over 11,000 people. It is a vital indigenous industry and makes a significant contribution to the economy in terms of output, employment and exports.

I fully accept the commitments of both the Minister, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, in respect of a long-term sustainable and profitable Irish fishing industry, which is critical to coastal communities throughout the country. I am satisfied that, since they were appointed, both have engaged fully with the Federation of Irish Fishermen. They met on several occasions with representatives of the federation and kept them fully briefed during the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg last week. This is the kind of dialogue through which progress can be made. The Minister and Minister of State also travelled to Luxembourg for the specific reason of meeting the EU fisheries Commissioner and conveying to him, in the strongest possible terms, the concerns of Irish fishermen. I have no doubt that Commissioner Borg is now fully acquainted with the difficulties being experienced by Irish fishermen.

It was not today nor yesterday that the Irish fishing industry began to experience difficulties. Recent increases in fuel prices have not helped. In recognition of this, the then Minister appointed Dr. Noel Cawley to chair an independent review of the industry and to bring forward a plan for its restructuring and development. Following intensive discussions with fishermen and fishing communities, Dr. Cawley brought forward a strategy, Steering A New Course: A Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013. This strategy maps the way forward for the industry. One of its key recommendations relates to the need to restructure the Irish fleet in order that it might become world class in nature and be ideally suited to coping with matters relating to fish stocks and species and the sustainable practices of the modern fisheries sector.

The decommissioning scheme launched in February reflects the extensive consultation that took place with the industry. This scheme will permanently remove fishing vessels from the Irish fleet, particularly a number of older and larger boats that are over ten years old and over 18 m in length. The first offers of grants under the scheme were made in the past couple of weeks and the programme of decommissioning will remove up to 35% of the larger whitefish vessels from the fleet. This will have significant consequential benefit for those who remain in the industry by increasing the quotas available to more modern, competitive fishing vessels and to smaller vessels. It will also ensure that we have a more sustainable and profitable fleet. This is particularly relevant to the home ports of the vessels being decommissioned. The scheme represents a very substantial commitment on the part of the Government to bring the fishing fleet into balance with remaining resources.

I find it difficult to understand or accept the issue relating to discards. While I accept this is a complex problem, it is one which simply must be addressed. I welcome the commitment on the part of the Minister and Minister of State to focus on the early adoption of new conservation measures to reduce the deliberate discarding of fish. Most discarded fish do not survive and I see no advantage, from the point of view of conservation, in throwing them overboard. When one takes into account the cost to fishermen of going to sea and then being obliged to discard perfectly good catches, what is happening makes no sense.

I welcome the announcement by Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, regarding the establishment, under the chairmanship of the CEO of An Bord lascaigh Mhara, of a new Irish seafood marketing initiative to maximise opportunities in the domestic seafood market for the Irish fishing fleet. I also welcome the establishment of a new Irish fisheries science research partnership under the chairmanship of the CEO of the Marine Institute. The latter will enhance collaboration and mutual understanding on fisheries science priorities that are beneficial to the long-term future of the fishing industry.

I support the efforts of the Minister and Minister of State to persuade the EU fisheries Commissioner to examine new information in respect of cod stocks in the Celtic Sea and to consider the possibility of a sustainable increase in access for Irish fishermen to these stocks in order to alleviate the pressure on their incomes. No one knows better than fishermen the importance of the conservation of stocks and it is not in their interest to overfish.

It is important to remember what lies at the heart of this matter, namely, fishermen and their families trying to survive. People who have invested huge amounts of money and time in building up the industry in the past are finding it impossible to make a decent living. These individuals are not just constituents, they are neighbours and friends. I live in a part of the country where we, as a community, suffer the pain of lives lost at sea and observe our friends and neighbours enduring extreme hardship as a result of the serious problems the industry faces.

It is vital we remain in regular contact with fishermen and listen to what they have to say. We must listen when they inform us about the difficulties they face and work to resolve them. Fishermen state that they are being over-policed by fishery officers who make it almost impossible for them to work and carry out their business and that their counterparts in other EU countries are treated differently. Action must be taken in respect of their concerns.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should have a word with the Minister in that regard.

Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Some 80% of the fish caught in our waters are being taken by foreign boats. However, only one third of all boardings by fishery officers relate to these vessels. There is something seriously wrong in this regard. I am strongly of the view that the introduction of administrative sanctions must be considered in cases where minor offences are committed. This would be better than the current regime under which all offences, major or minor, are seen as criminal in nature.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Deputy could also have a word with the Minister about that matter.

Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that, during their short time in office, the Minister, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, have worked very hard and made progress that is in the best interests of the fishing industry, fishermen and coastal communities. I wish them every success in their continuing efforts to secure additional EU funding to help address the current short-term difficulties being experienced by fishermen. These difficulties must be considered within the context of the Common Fisheries Policy and must be addressed by a common EU-funded approach. When our fishermen say they are in difficulty, we must listen and act appropriately.

Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to contribute to this debate on the fishing industry. We do not often have the opportunity to comment on that industry in the House.

Fishing has been a Cinderella industry for many years. Approximately 12,000 people are involved in the industry, many of the difficulties relating to which date back over 30 years. Those in the industry were partly responsible for creating these difficulties because the organisations which represented them were far too diverse. I refer here to the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, the Irish South and East Fishermen's Organisation, the Irish Fishermen's Organisation, the Irish Fish Producers Organisation and one or two others. These organisations did not speak with one voice and this never helped their cause. However, they are now under the umbrella of the Federation of Irish Fishermen and the position is changing. The president of the federation, Mr. Michael Walsh, comes from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's constituency. He is a sensible and knowledgeable person and if we are fair with him, that will be reciprocated to the benefit of us all.

I welcome the agreement among EU Ministers on illegal and unreported catches both within EU waters and outside them. It is estimated that such catches are costing us in the region of €1 billion annually, so the practice has to be stopped. Our fishermen have also been guilty of catching fish illegally and of landing them in undesignated ports, but their offences were minor compared to the fishermen of other countries. I understand that regulations were lacking in some of the major fishing states in the EU.

Several years ago, as a member of the Oireachtas marine committee, I met the Commodore of the Naval Service. I told him about an incident involving fisheries officers and a local fisherman who was fishing close to shore. The fisheries officers were only doing their job but a Naval Service member was sent to assist them. There was no need for that and it represented a poor use of resources. It is easy to catch fishermen close to shore but the Naval Service should be out at sea stopping the people who do the real damage. Too often, they chase our own instead of foreign fishermen.

I do not often agree with Deputy Broughan but I concur with his comments on the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. I have heard that organisation referred to by fishermen in my area as the Gestapo, the Black and Tans and in other less than complimentary terms. I was told that officials of the authority planned to set up a stand at a fair in Killybegs but were advised against it. I could relate further incidents but I will not do so because I have been told by fishermen that they could face repercussions. Fishermen are being targeted for minor technicalities. Everybody will make a mistake in a log book at some stage but that is not being recognised. Perhaps the Minister can bring sanity to the authority. I agree with administrative sanctions. I visited Brussels with the Rinn committee and met the Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Dr. Joe Borg. Administrative sanctions are applied in most continental jurisdictions, so I do not accept the advice of the Attorney General that they cannot be introduced in Ireland. Administrative sanctions were introduced a number of years ago on the advice of a former Attorney General and the legislation on regional fisheries boards also provides for them.

I commend the Minister and the Minister of State on their efforts to increase access by Irish fishermen to cod stocks. Several years ago, Dutch boats were permitted to come within six miles of the coast to catch juvenile cod, which they then discarded. The South and East Fishermen's Organisation wanted to act responsibility by changing the regulations. That meant they could not fish for cod either but they did not mind because it would allow the stocks to replenish. This goes to show that if we work with them, they will work with us.

Before concluding, I have to mention the port of Dunmore East, which is in my constituency. Development of the port is proposed in the national development plan. It currently has a turnover of €13 million and that figure is rising steadily. It has not been well managed in the past but it now has an excellent harbour master.

I commend the Minister, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, on their engagement with the Federation of Irish Fishermen. Their efforts are appreciated, as are their representations to the Commissioner, Dr. Borg.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. The fishing industry is important to County Louth and the people who fish from Port Oriel and Clogherhead provide a significant income base for many families in the area. I commend the Department of Transport and Louth County Council on the ongoing upgrade of Port Oriel's facilities. During my time in this House, the development of Port Oriel and Clogherhead has been one of the political priorities in my constituency, so I am glad this significant investment has given us an excellent port facility which will support fishermen and the industry's well-being for generations to come.

This is my first opportunity to publicly congratulate the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, on his appointment to that most important of offices, and Deputy Killeen on his appointment as the Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for fisheries. I know both men well on a personal level and I have no doubt they will bring their diligence and commitment to bear on an industry that is of significance to our economy.

Since their appointments, the Minister and the Minister of State have engaged fully with the Federation of Irish Fishermen, in recognition of the difficulties being experienced by the Irish fishing industry. They have had a number of meetings with the federation at which all the issues of concern to the industry were thoroughly considered. During the course of last week's Fisheries Council, the federation met the Minister and the Minister of State on a number of occasions and was kept fully advised of developments.

The Minister had a lengthy telephone conversation with the Commissioner, Dr. Borg, on 5 June and, with the Minister of State, travelled to Strasbourg for a face-to-face meeting with the Commissioner and his senior officials on 18 June, where they conveyed in the strongest terms the difficulties being experienced by Irish fishermen. They noted that the current problems have arisen throughout Europe and must be understood in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy, with the consequence that a common European solution is required. They have, therefore, pressed the Commissioner to provide an EU funded package of measures to alleviate the concerns of Irish fishermen. At the Fisheries Council meeting on 24 June, the Minister and the Minister of State set out a strong case for this package of measures and a number of their colleagues supported their view that a pan-European approach was urgently needed to resolve the short and medium-term difficulties.

The proposals published by the Commissioner on 17 June are welcome, although they highlight the absence of any provision for additional EU funding to underwrite the proposals. The Ministers welcome the commitment of the Commissioner to explore all possibilities for the identification of additional funding for the package and look forward to the outcome of his efforts. Following an initial consideration of his proposals at last week's Council meeting, the Commissioner has undertaken to come back to the next meeting on 15 July with definite proposals on an EU package. The Minister and the Minister of State remain committed to the long-term sustainability and profitability of the Irish fishing industry, which is critical to our coastal communities.

The decision to appoint Dr. Noel Cawley to chair an independent review of the industry and bring forward a plan for its restructuring and development is to be welcomed. Following intensive discussions with fishermen and fishing communities, Dr. Cawley brought forward a strategy with the support of Mr. Joey Murrin and Mr. Ruán Ó Bric, entitled Steering A New Course: A Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013. This strategy maps the way forward for the industry and a key component is the restructuring of the Irish fleet to create a world-class fleet ideally suited to the stocks, species and sustainable practices of the modern fisheries sector, as committed to by the Government in the programme for Government.

The National Development Plan 2007-13 has earmarked €216 million for the fisheries sector with a further €118 million to be made available over the life of the programme subject to verified progressive change in the industry as set out in the national strategy for the industry. The most critical element in addressing the impact of high fuel prices is making the fleet more profitable.

I regret I do not have more time to deal with this important issue. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to make my brief contribution.

John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. I am not from a fishing constituency. However, it is important that those of us who do not represent such constituencies come into the House to speak about the marvellous asset we have in our fishing industry.

The Government has acknowledged the grave problems being experienced by our fishermen in the short term and going back over many years. In terms of the current difficulties being experienced, the biggest issue of concern is that of insufficient quota to which I will return. There have been enormous increases in fuel prices. It is fair to say they have in some instances trebled in recent times. I understand from media reports that the cost to trawlers of diesel for a ten day fishing trip is now almost €20,000, which is astronomical. It is hard to make margins of any meaningful proportion when faced with such costs.

Another issue mentioned by many speakers is that of discards which fishermen are obliged to go along with. It is a terrible shame that this is the case. I referred earlier to quotas. The problems I have listed are not, by any stretch of the imagination, of the Government's or fishermen's making. Some of them, such as fuel prices, are beyond the control of Government. The quota situation dates back to 1973. It is true the fishing sector has been the poor relation for many years.

Ireland is surrounded by almost 20% of EU waters yet it receives only 4% of the quota. There is something radically wrong with that. This problem dates back to 1973 when quotas were first put in place.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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It is a reflection on the Governments that allowed it to happen.

John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland may not have been in a position at the time to produce adequate evidence which would have determined reasonable quotas. It may be that Brussels held back on us but I do not know if that is the case. At the end of the day, we received totally inadequate quotas. It is important to recognise we are starting from a low base. It is easy to be critical of Government as Deputy Kathleen Lynch has been in saying it is not defending fishermen. While I admire Deputy Lynch, I disagree with that statement.

We are fortunate to have a Minister and Minister of State who are absolutely committed to improving the lot of our fishermen and our fishing industry. The current problems did not arise under the watch of the current Ministers; they have been around for many years. It is about time they were tackled. I know from the level of engagement that has taken place in Europe with the Commissioner in recent days and weeks that they are being tackled.

It is hoped that at the end of the day agreement will be reached on EU-wide proposals that will satisfy our fishermen in terms of their having meaningful margins when they go to sea. Fishing is a tough, difficult hard life and the margins available are very small. I do not believe any of us would work for these margins. I sincerely hope there will be vast improvements in this regard.

I welcome the decommissioning scheme and the €42 million committed in that regard. While this will suit some people it will not, as is the case in any walk of life, suit others. It will result in many older fleets leaving the industry thus ensuring there are more stocks available for those who remain in it, which in itself will be of tremendous help. It is regrettable that skippers only will qualify for the pay-out. Adequate resources should be put in place to ensure those who lose their jobs are upskilled to re-enter the workplace.

I regret my time is limited. This is an important debate on what is an important national asset. It is incumbent on all of us to stand up and be counted in terms of protecting our fishing industry. I am sure both Ministers, who have shown great commitment in the portfolios they have held to date, will ensure we achieve substantial improvements in our fishing industry.

I am particularly pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to this debate. This is an issue of extreme importance in my constituency of Donegal North-East.

Fishing has always been a major employer among rural dwellers, along the coast in Donegal and throughout the country. The industry has been dealt its fair share of blows in recent years. It is only right that it is recognised that the Fianna Fáil Party has seen the fishing industry through many good years. Ministers across the board have done as much as they could for fishermen down through the years and I do not believe this is about to change.

I commend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and his Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, on their handling of this issue thus far given their recent appointments to this portfolio. Given the current global economic climate, it is a difficult brief. However, it is in capable hands. Members will be aware that some of the issues affecting the fishing industry, in particular rising fuel costs, are beyond the Minister's control. These increases are having a devastating effect on many industries. I commend the Minister and Minister of State on their efforts to convince the Commission to focus on issues such as research and innovation in the development of more efficient engines and fishing practices.

It is important that we realise at this stage that the decline in fishing stocks, the cause of many of our current problems, is an issue which we neglected for many years. We did not realise the importance of regulation in this area. I acknowledge that climate change is also causing problems in this area.

Stocking levels of cod, whiting, herring, sole and so on in the Irish Sea are of major concern. It was never going to be easy to ask fishermen to decommission in order to allow restocking. However, this is what has to be done. This issue pertains not alone to Ireland but to other countries in the EU. To put it bluntly, there are too many fishing boats and not enough fish. It is a European issue. We, as proud members of the EU, must contribute to solving the issues.

I welcome that the Minister and Minister of State met last month with the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Mr. Borg, to again outline the urgent issues facing the Irish fishing industry. I also commend both Ministers on their close engagement with the Federation of Irish Fishermen in an effort to allay their fears and to hear firsthand their concerns. As the Minister informed the House last night, he outlined last week to the Council of Fisheries Ministers a strong case for a package of EU funded measures to address the current difficulties being experienced by Irish fishermen. I remain hopeful that a series of tangible short to medium-term measures will be presented by Commissioner Borg to the fisheries Ministers on 15 July.

Under the National Development Plan 2007-13, the Government has earmarked €216 million for the fisheries sector with the possibility of a further €118 million being made available over the lifetime of the programme subject to verified progressive change in the industry as set in the Cawley strategy. With all interested parties engaging with one another and with a favourable set of proposals on funding from the EU we can achieve a sustainable and profitable industry in Ireland. I look forward to real measures being proposed on 15 July in an effort to sustain this critical industry for our coastal communities. It is an EU-wide issue. I commend the Minister and the Minister of State on their substantial efforts, particularly over the last number of weeks, to inject aid into this failing industry.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Ring, Terence Flanagan, Coveney, Sheehan and Deenihan.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Is that agreed? Agreed. The Deputies will have to organise the times between them.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I commend Deputy Creed on the introduction of this important motion, as recognised by a number of Deputies. There is agreement across the House that this is an important industry that is under severe pressure. I wish to talk about illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, commonly referred to as IUU fishing. I note the proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community system to prevent, detect and eliminate such fishing. This measure will address the high incidence of illegal fishing and will tackle the marketing of fish and fishery products acquired through illegal fishing. It will mean that all fishery products will have a certificate proving they have been caught and imported to the Community legally. The measure has an international focus and aims to remove illegal products from the market. The problem is that it will not come into force until 2010, almost two years away. Do the Ministers opposite have any interim measures to step up controls to combat illegal fishing and illegal importing of such products into Ireland and into the Community? What more will be done in this area? This is important.

A fisherman told me recently that what he wants is the maintenance of the industry in Ireland and the labelling of fish caught in Irish waters, so that if fish are caught elsewhere and brought to Ireland people will recognise that. A fish caught in Icelandic waters would be labelled accordingly.

Many speakers have alluded to the criminalisation of Irish fishermen. I understand we are almost unique in the European Union in this regard. Surely if other countries have not gone down this road, we must ask the question of why we have done so. The Minister has a responsibility to revisit this issue and to implement changes. The current situation is wrong. In my area, which includes the three ports of Cobh, Ballycotton and Youghal, the fishermen are under terrible pressure. I have a question for the Minister in this regard which he might address later. I understand the Government's amendment to the motion commends the Minister on attempting to secure an EU-funded package of measures which will be made known on 15 July. If this EU-funded package includes permission for state aid, can the Minister give a commitment that the Exchequer will be in a position to extend such aid to Irish fishermen?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Other countries across the EU may be allowed to extend state aid and it would be very wrong and unfair if Irish fishermen were discommoded by not receiving such aid. The Minister should put his response on the record tonight.

A fisherman told me this evening that some of the larger boats here can catch between €3,000 and €4,000 worth of cod throughout the week, which they must dump. There is something very wrong there. At a time when parts of the world are starving, food is being dumped at sea. This is an important issue which has been mentioned to me by fishermen. I ask the Minister to consider how this might be addressed. There is something immoral about dumping perfectly good food into the water.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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That is not conservation.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It does not help conservation. I wish the Minister and the Minister of State well in their efforts, as must Deputies on all sides of the House. There is much at stake here. They will have to roll up their sleeves and work hard.

With regard to illegal fishing, it is important that boats of all nationalities should be treated in the same way. Trawlers from other jurisdictions which are fishing illegally should be arrested and treated in the same way as Irish boats. The feeling at the moment is that this is not the case.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I compliment Deputy Creed on the motion he has put before the House. I want to take up a point mentioned by Deputy Stanton, namely the criminalisation of fishermen. The Minister and the Minister of State should immediately introduce the necessary legislation to get rid of this. It is wrong. These are hard-working men and women in a hard-pressed industry. We have seen many tragedies over the years, as has the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in his constituency. The people of this country have great respect for fishermen. They know they work hard and that it is a difficult life. In my constituency and others, fishermen do not have the wealth that builders and others had for the last 20 years when things were going well. Fishermen have always had it hard. It is a hard life. The least we can do is support them in their hour of need. I have heard from fishermen on the west coast that when the boats are near shore they seem to be picked up easily by the naval men, yet the Spanish fishermen and those of other nationalities can come into our waters and steal our fish. They can break the law and we do not seem to do anything about it. We let them away with it because they are from the EU, yet when they are our own people we keep them down and try to make sure they cannot make a living.

The fishermen of this country were sold out over the years by previous Governments, and particularly by Fianna Fáil. They have been sold out for the agriculture sector. Fishing is a sector in which we should be strong, but we are not. Now we have a major problem with fuel. The Minister and the Minister of State will be in Brussels on 23 July. I ask them to tell the Commissioner that we need something done for our fishermen now. We need to make sure that we protect the industry and retain the few people that are left in it. In my constituency, if one sees a fishing boat now it is a tourist attraction, although thousands of people used to live and work in that industry.

If the Ministers do not understand why coastal people voted "No" in the referendum, it is because they have been put out of their jobs and are over-regulated. I do not blame Europe for this but Irish Governments. As Deputy Stanton said, when making regulations we cannot just go one step but must go ten steps further. This has become a major problem. Everybody trying to make a living in this country is sick and tired of being over-regulated by people who have never employed anybody in their lives. Those people's cheques will arrive this month whether they go to work or not, but the fishermen must go out and work hard in all kinds of weather and when they bring in their catch they must hope and pray they will get a decent price for it. In some cases they do not. It is time we realised we have one of the best available commodities and we are not using it. We are not supporting fishermen and giving them the help they need.

Deputy Stanton mentioned something about which I spoke in the Dáil ten years ago, although I never thought it would come back to haunt us so fast. I said that within an election or two we would have a problem with water quality and it would be an election issue. I never thought it would happen so quickly but it happened in Galway. We are not far away from the next crisis, which will be about food. We are importing so much food to this country that if there is a scare in some other country — when people start dying from a disease or getting cancer from certain foods — we will have none of our own. We will have neither our fishermen nor our farmers and we will be producing nothing. We will have let the fishermen go out of business.

I was recently in Wexford for a meeting of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, and it was a shame to see so many marvellous boats tied up along the shore. They have been taken out of commission by Europe and by the Irish Government. This is a disgrace and something needs to be done. Fishermen need support now. They have been a quiet people for a long time. I am calling on the Minister and the Minister of State to come back from Europe with a decent package for them and to fight for our coastal communities. We are letting the Spaniards in and they are robbing us of our fish.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the opportunity to discuss the motion and I thank my colleagues, Deputies Creed and Sheahan, for all their hard work in this area and for bringing this motion before the House. I congratulate the Minister and the Minister of State on their appointments and wish them well in their roles.

This is an extremely important motion that needs to be taken seriously by the Government. The seafood industry employs more than 12,000 people and contributes €750 million to the economy. If the Government does not resolve the issues that are crippling this industry by obtaining direct assistance from the EU, we are facing the loss of the entire industry and the way of life of our fishermen.

Numerous problems are faced by Irish fishermen every day, including the high cost of fuel, which has risen by 40% since January this year. Irish fish prices have declined, EU quotas are restrictive and fish stocks are depleting. As stated in the Fine Gael motion, the Government has been too slow to implement the Cawley report and ensure that Irish fish is banded and marketed as such. On this side of the House we want to see the Government immediately negotiate a package of financial assistance for fishermen. We want to see the Irish fishing industry not disadvantaged relative to its competitors and other EU countries that seem to be permitted state aid in certain circumstances. Irish fishermen do not receive such aid. We want the Government to introduce regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing without delay, following agreement at EU level. There are numerous other measures, already mentioned by my colleagues, that we in the Fine Gael Party wish to see implemented and they are included in the motion before the House this evening.

Ordinary people's lives and livelihoods are at stake here. I have received numerous telephone calls and e-mails at my office from fishermen based at Howth harbour, in my constituency of Dublin North-East. These men face uncertain times and their prospects seem dismal. An e-mail sent to me by a constituent in Howth states:

I have been a fisherman since I left school at 15 and possess two boats. My vessels operate from Howth and the crews consist solely of local fishermen. For the last six weeks the larger vessel has not been to sea as I could not afford to pay the fuel bill with the minuscule amount of quota fish we are allowed to catch. The six men who operate this boat all live in Howth and Baldoyle and they are suffering as they have had no wages for six weeks. The future is extremely bleak as there is presently no hope of going back out fishing. I am struggling to keep my other boat going. Four of her six crew live locally. I am appealing now for grant aid from the EU as otherwise both vessels will be tied up with 12 men out of work.

Crisis point has been reached in our fishing industry and we need immediate intervention before it is wiped out. The headline of the cover story in my local newspaper, the Northside People, reads "Northside fishermen fear for livelihood". The story is about a northside fisherman, with us this evening in the Visitors Gallery, and other fishermen. The fisherman will have to come to terms with the fact that he may be the last generation of his family to work out of Howth harbour if the Government does not take immediate steps to protect the Irish fishing industry. It is a sad day for all fishermen operating out of Howth harbour as only a few decent-sized fishing vessels operate from the pier. As Deputy Ring said when pointing out the gravity of the situation, if one sees such a vessel nowadays it is most likely to function only as a museum piece. This should not be the case.

This motion was tabled by Fine Gael in response to the escalating crisis facing the fishing industry. To date this Government has secured nothing concrete from the EU for the industry. The Government, in conjunction with the EU, must take urgent measures now if it is serious about saving the fishing industry. I ask the Minister and Minister of State to discuss this critical issue at the meeting on 23 July and to secure whatever financial assistance they can for the industry, otherwise it will be doomed forever. The Government must negotiate a better quota system for fishermen and an allowance must be provided for them, in line with that issued to the Naval Service. A direct financial assistance package is required to save the fishing industry. We have run out of time and the fishermen of Howth and other Irish ports need direct intervention by this Government. There is a proud tradition of fishing in this country, particularly from Howth harbour in my constituency. We in the Fine Gael Party will fight to ensure that this tradition continues.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to have the opportunity to speak briefly on this motion and I thank my colleague, Deputy Creed, for bringing it forward and continuing to raise issues that affect fishermen and their families along the coast. I wish the Minister well because he has come in at the deep end on this issue. This is not a time for learning — the Minister has many experienced advisers available to him — it is a time for action and a tough stance in Europe with regard to Irish fishing.

It is no exaggeration to say the fishing industry is in crisis. It needs help at a national level, which the Government can provide if it wishes, and also at an EU level to ensure the industry survives and grows in the future. The commercial viability and very existence of many fishing boats is under threat from what can only be described as a perfect storm of challenges that are hitting the industry simultaneously. Fishermen have no control over most of these challenges. They include a combination of dramatic increases in fuel prices, which are up by 40% this year, a lack of quota, over-capacity in the fleet, the stagnation and decline of fish prices and competition from illegal, unregulated and unreported catches, which are driving prices down. Other challenges include enforcement practices in Ireland that, in many areas, are outside EU norms, particularly to the criminalisation of fishermen for certain breaches of regulations, an issue that has been raised by many of my colleagues, and the slow progress in implementing the Cawley report, the accepted blueprint for the future development of the industry at sea and, equally importantly, on shore. Owing to all of these factors the Irish fishing industry faces a severe challenge. Fishermen are not politicians and would not easily decide to blockade ports in an effort to focus attention on this issue but they have decided to do so on this occasion out of desperation. Any person in this House who has met fishermen or their families in the past month will understand the desperation they feel.

Fishing is, rightly, a highly regulated industry, influenced and controlled by policy decisions at a European and national level. Within the EU it is acknowledged that fishermen face a crisis and agreement on a financial rescue package was expected in last week's Council meeting. The rescue package has not yet materialised and we have been asked to wait until next month to see what happens. I urge the Minister to ensure that Irish fishermen get their fair share in the package finally agreed at Council level and, more importantly, that the way in which the fund is calculated and divided, in terms of EU funds and national funds, does not disadvantage Irish fishermen and their families. If the Government is required to match compensatory funds from Europe it should be forthcoming with them, even allowing for the budgetary constraints we face.

I welcome progress regarding illegal and unreported fishing but it will take time to see results in pricing and so on. I commend my colleague, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, on his examination of how we can make the shift from criminal prosecutions to a fines-based mechanism. He is making a genuine effort to do this in a way that is legally consistent.

I will finally mention discards, the most disgraceful element of the Common Fisheries Policy. I would like Ireland to take the lead on this issue. At a global level, 7.3 million tonnes of dead fish are thrown back into the sea each year, at a time when many people throughout the world do not have enough food to feed themselves. Some 18% of those discards happen in the north-east Atlantic, much of which is designated as Ireland's territorial waters. Some 1.3 million tonnes of fish are thrown back into the north-east Atlantic each year because fishermen cannot bring it ashore or are trying to hide what they have caught. It is not sustainable, morally acceptable or right. In fairness, the Department has made an effort to bring about a change of policy in respect of discards at EU level. The Minister should champion such efforts in Brussels because people are looking for leadership. It is ridiculous that fishermen have to throw dead by-catch into the sea. Whatever they do with it, they should not have to discard it in such a manner. They should be allowed to bring it ashore. A mechanism should be put in place whereby fishermen can report any by-catch they should not have caught. They should be encouraged to bring it to the shore so it can be used to feed people. Fishermen should get some compensation for catching it, rather than hiding it as many of them do at present.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I commend Deputies Creed and Sheahan for tabling this motion. I regret that it has to be taken in Private Members' time. We should be debating a Government motion offering an aid package to hard-pressed fishermen around our coast. I represent the constituency of Cork South-West, where hard-pressed people have nothing but the mountains behind them and the sea in front of them. It used to be possible for such people to get some income from tourism for a few weeks during the summer, but this is drifting away as a result of the demise of the Cork to Swansea ferry service. The Government has done nothing to restore that service. The ever-increasing value of the euro is also keeping tourists away.

With such a background in mind, it is time for this Government, which is led by Fianna Fáil with the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats bobbing behind, to take some steps to assist the seafood industry. I challenge it to take a step to assist fishermen and their families. There is widespread support in urban and rural communities for the plight the fishermen are in through no fault of their own. The Irish seafood industry, which is worth €750 million to our economy, directly employs over 12,000 people. The immediate priority of the Minister, Deputy Smith, should be to tackle the cost of fuel, which is accounting for up to 75% of the value of each fisherman's catch. There has been an increase of 40% in the cost of fuel since the start of the year. The suggestion that fishermen are supported when paying for fuel is untrue. While the duty is removed from their fuel, that does not explain why French and Spanish fishermen pay 50 cent a litre while our fishermen pay 91 cent a litre. If the Minister does not take action in this area over the next few days, no trawlers will leave our ports and harbours for the rest of the summer.

The second most important issue in this vital sector is the large-scale importation of fish and seafood products, most of which are untraceable. I understand that Cork Airport is now the biggest fishery port in the country. It is estimated that 500,000 tonnes of illegal, unreported and unregulated fish products, worth approximately €1.1 billion, are illegally imported into the EU each year. This has led to a decrease in fish prices in the European market and a loss of market share for EU fishermen. Such activity is a major contributor to over-fishing and a threat to marine biodiversity. Many of the fish in question are harvested in Irish waters by foreign boats before being transported back to ports in other countries and then flown back to Cork Airport. Will the Government take action on this issue, which is vital if a fishing industry is to be maintained in this country?

The third area on which the Minister must focus is the implementation of the fisheries regulations and the criminalisation of fishermen. I hear complaints on a daily basis about the over-vigorous enforcement of regulations by officers of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, which has more than twice as many fisheries protection officers as the combined total of the equivalent authorities in France and Spain. We do not need the permission of Commissioner Borg to decriminalise the activities of Irish fishermen. The Minister can take action by speaking to the Attorney General. Where there is a will, there is a way. The Minister should act before it is too late. The measures in question were imposed under Irish, rather than EU, legislation. Some €42 million has been secured to support the decommissioning of 46 boats. However, no provision of any description has been made for the deck hands on the boats in question. Are they expected to live on fresh air and cold water? A scheme should be put in place in this country to compensate such people on the loss of their livelihoods.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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We need to find a way of supporting deck hands who have spent 20 or 30 years fishing the waters off our coast. While Ireland has 24% of the EU's fisheries area, under the terms of its membership of the EU it is allowed just 4% of the Union's total catch. I welcome the recent announcement that an independent appeals officer is to be appointed to examine fishermen's complaints about the operations of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. I have not seen the terms and conditions of the officer's appointment, however. I hope this measure will help to forge a new and balanced relationship between fishermen and Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority officials. I remind the Minister that self-praise is no praise. The sooner he delivers the goods, the better for Irish fishermen. Pious words butter no bread for our fishermen.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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As a representative of a maritime county, I am delighted to have an opportunity to say a few words as part of this debate. I acknowledge the work of Deputies Creed and Sheahan, who have given us an opportunity to discuss the fishing industry this evening. The potential of the industry to benefit this country has not been tapped — instead, it has been neglected. There was a time when this country was not prepared to make the most of its fish stocks. I refer to the era when most fishermen went to sea one day a week. We abandoned our fishing industry in 1973, more or less, because we did not have the resources to maximise its potential. We sold out to concentrate on the greater prospects offered by the agriculture sector. Many European countries, some of which are landlocked, saw the potential of Ireland's fishing grounds. They were aware that we were not in a position to exploit that potential ourselves.

The fishing industry is important in the context of healthy eating, which is being promoted by the Government. Almost every nutritionist recommends fish as a critical part of a balanced diet. They suggest that one should eat fish three or four days a week, rather than just one or two days a week.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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One could eat it seven days a week.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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There is a shift away from red meat, which nutritionists recommend one should consume one day a week. When one considers that obesity is a growing problem among this country's population, it is even more important to place a renewed emphasis on the fishing industry.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is aware that there is a scarcity of supply of fish. There are concerns about the availability of fish. What will happen in a county like Kerry, which depends greatly on tourism, if fishermen are unable to go to sea to bring in a catch? Most restaurants rely on fish dishes to attract customers, but if something is not done they will not have enough fish in a few weeks' time.

I am not sure whether the Minister, Deputy Smith, or the Taoiseach was responsible for building up such huge expectations in advance of the most recent meeting of the Council of Ministers. Many people were under the impression that an aid package would be offered to Irish fishermen on foot of the meeting. I met some fishermen who were convinced that a package would be made available, but that did not happen. I understand that there was a reluctance at that meeting to offer assistance.

It is time for the Government to do something. I accept that we face difficult times. We are fortunate to have many good professional operators in the fishing industry but we could be witnessing the end of them if something drastic is not done to help as soon as possible.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Last night my colleagues, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Trevor Sargent, set out clearly the issues facing the fishing industry. They outlined progress made and detailed measures we intend taking to resolve the outstanding problems.

I am heartened by some of the constructive suggestions that have come from all sides of the House, notwithstanding some predictable point scoring. It has been a well-informed debate with an acknowledgment of current fiscal realities and the historical constraints that beset the fishing industry.

Our ministerial predecessors with the fisheries portfolio established the seafood strategy review group under the chairmanship of Dr. Noel Cawley to restructure and develop the industry. The Cawley strategy, Steering a New Course, was launched in January 2007. Dr. Cawley also agreed to chair an implementation group of all relevant stakeholders, including the Federation of Irish Fishermen, FIF, to bring forward delivery of the report's recommendations. This ensures that, at a time when the industry is experiencing extreme difficulties, we have an excellent blueprint to help it develop in a sustainable, profitable and self-reliant way for all participants.

Since taking over the portfolio, the Minister, Deputy Smith, and I have had several meetings with the FIF. An introductory meeting on 29 May addressed the fuel crisis and other general issues. There was a nine-hour meeting in Athlone on 13 June——

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister did a day's work then.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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——where we confirmed that we would meet Commissioner Borg and convey in the strongest terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen and that we would press him to bring forward a new EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the immediate concerns of the industry.

We had meetings with the FIF before and during the Fisheries Council on 24 June. I also met the FIF last Thursday at the innovation and sustainability conference in Donegal town on 26 June.

By way of direct engagement with the Commissioner, the Minister had a long telephone conversation with him on 6 June. We had a bilateral meeting on 18 June at which, having already met the FIF, we were able to convey to him exactly what the fishermen had said to us.

At the Fisheries Council on 24 June we reiterated our demands for a co-ordinated EU-funded package of short-term measures to address the present difficulties. I was pleased by the support extended by some other fisheries Ministers at that Council and hope, with that support, to put further pressure on the Commission at the next Fisheries Council on 15 July. We want a viable package that must include additional EU-funded provisions.

It is clear that there is a degree of common understanding of the issues. This has been the case throughout the entire process of the Cawley strategy. There is significant additional pressure on the industry because of the rise in fuel prices. There is appreciation also that some of the issues cannot be resolved overnight. However, in at least two of the contributions tonight there was a total misunderstanding of the nature of the French and Spanish measures which fall considerably short of those that have been taken in this country.

In the matter of decommissioning, many people emphasise the payments to those who leave the business but the really important element is the economic lift from the redistribution of the whitefish and prawn catch previously taken by the decommissioned vessels. The figure for this is currently estimated at €20 million per annum, a considerable amount to those who remain. Ultimately, decommissioning is only valuable if it also benefits the owners and skippers who stay in the fleet.

The issue of administrative sanctions was dealt with last night by the Minister, Deputy Smith. He emphasised that we had listened to the arguments made by the federation and, as promised, that we have referred the matter to the Attorney General for a fresh look at the issue. As the Ministers responsible, we will be led by the proper legal advice in this matter.

Contrary to what a Member said, the Council meeting was very successful in moving to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated, IUU, imports. This trade impacts negatively on the income of fishermen. As Deputy Stanton rightly noted, from the beginning of 2010 the outcome will be of enormous benefit to Irish fishermen. The reason for the timescale involved is because of the nature of the proposals which are wide ranging and will take some time to come into place.

In the matter of discards, Ireland has been to the fore since 2004 in trying to ensure the EU brings forward proposals that are sensible and that address the issues. We raised the matter with the Commissioner and at the Council meeting and will continue to pursue it until we get a workable resolution.

A number of speakers referred to the market and research initiatives which are very important.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Michael Creed and Pádraic McCormack. I thank Deputy Creed for bringing this motion to the House.

I come from a constituency with a strong fishing tradition and a significant economic dependency on the industry and therefore I have been dismayed over the past number of years, particularly during the past few months, by the Government's inaction on this issue. It ignores the warning signs concerning the future viability of the Irish fishing industry. Fishermen in my county, in communities such as Kilmore, Duncannon, Fethard-on-Sea and other areas, are being forced off the sea and into the social welfare system. The Government should recognise the short sightedness of its approach in allowing a long established industry to die. In the long term it will pay a cost in providing social welfare payments to support families who previously earned their livelihoods from fishing.

This Government has witnessed the decimation of the fishing industry. Fishermen and their representatives are angry and frustrated. They know they have a good product for the marketplace but bad management has allowed the situation reach crisis point. It is not only those directly involved in the industry who will suffer if the Government does not take decisive action. There is a knock on effect. Vibrant economic and social communities have been built around the fishing villages and if the industry becomes unviable, those shops, petrol stations, pubs and restaurants will suffer. The social fabric of these villages will be damaged. I cannot stress enough the importance of that point.

Fishermen's representatives have been very vocal in getting out their message and I ask the Minister to heed their concerns. Against a backdrop of core difficulties and restrictions which have already led to hardship, the impact of rising fuel prices is effectively the straw that breaks the camel's back. Boat owners have been unable to afford or justify the cost of diesel to go to sea and over the past few weeks many crew members have been forced to sign on and seek social welfare assistance. In many instances members of extended families are involved in the crewing of boats and when the boat is no longer at sea there is a double whammy effect. If a father, a son and a son-in-law are on a single boat that can no longer fish, there is a significant economic impact on that family.

If there was a factory closure in my part of the country there would be news headlines, television cameras and promises of taskforces from any Government. Allowing the fishing industry to decline has the same impact but unfortunately the reaction is not as visible.

It is a most depressing sight to drive into a small fishing village and see boats tied up in the harbour. On behalf of the fishermen of County Wexford and the rest of Ireland, I plead with the Minister not to allow this industry to die. The consequences will be dire and far reaching. People are willing and able to work. I ask the Minister to ensure they have an industry in which to work and to secure its viability into the future.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The last straw for small coastal fishermen was the introduction of amendments to the Sea Fisheries Maritime Jurisdiction Bill by the then Minister of State, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher. However, because Deputy Gallagher was from a sensitive fishing area the Bill was put through by another Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who had no fishermen and only a few yards of coastline in his constituency.

That Bill was draconian and attempted to make criminals out of fishermen. It wiped out small inshore fishermen because its measures dictated that if they were to be fined for any offence they would have a criminal record that would remain on their account for life. This is despite the fact that breaches of regulations in other EU member states are regarded only as administrative offences. Why is Ireland always overly enthusiastic in introducing and dealing with directives? Only for a Fine Gael amendment to the legislation, naval officers would have been allowed to open fire on fishermen in carrying out their work. This provision was dropped by the Minister following the Opposition amendment.

It is no wonder that the Lisbon treaty was defeated comprehensively in all small coastal areas, from County Donegal to County Cork. The residents are sick and tired of regulations and protested in the referendum on the treaty. Let me give two examples. In Kilkieran in Connemara, a small fishing area, the "No" vote amounted to 155, while the "Yes" vote amounted to 37. Therefore, approximately 80% of the people voted against the treaty. In Ballyconneely 181 voted "No", while "56" voted "Yes", which implies that approximately 76% in the area voted against the treaty. This was a response to over-regulation, as the electorate perceived it, and the over-enthusiastic approach of the Government in implementing directives. The electorate voted as it did, despite the efforts of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív.

Despite the statement of the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, the Council of Ministers has failed to issue a financial rescue package for the Irish fishing industry. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, at the meeting with the Federation of Irish Fishermen, gave the impression this would be achieved on 23 and 24 June. The fishermen's hopes have been dashed again as a result, irrespective of what the Minister of State now says.

With the 40% increase in diesel prices, fishermen are leaving their boats tied up, as many Members said. Why is there such a delay in implementing the recommendations of the Cawley report, as stated by Deputy Coveney? The Minister of State must support Irish fishermen in the current crisis. What does he — he is accompanied by the Minister of State responsible for food, Deputy Sargent — intend to do about the 7 million tonnes of dead fish returned to the sea while one third of the world's population are starving? This scandal must be faced up to and regulated for in order that fishermen will be allowed to bring smaller catches aboard for consumption. Dumping dead fish back into the sea in this day and age is a scandal and must be eliminated.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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It certainly is not conservation.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I thank my colleagues on all sides of the House for their contributions to the debate. I concur with the assessment of the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, in that the debate has been excellent and informative. It addressed, in the necessary detail, all the issues having an impact on the fishing industry and the opportunities for fishermen to make a living. The question that remains to be answered is whether the will of the House, as expressed by Members on all sides, will be reflected in the vote on the matter tonight.

It is not possible, in the time remaining, to address all the issues but I will address a number of the critical ones. We are primarily talking about people whose livelihoods are flashing in front of their eyes who may not be in a position to go to work tomorrow, next week or certainly next month, which is in the critical timeframe. The meeting of the Council of Ministers on 15 July is the last chance for many fishermen.

I am extremely concerned about the amendment to the motion tabled by the Government. It concentrates exclusively on the view that "the current short-term difficulties . . . require to be addressed by a common EU-funded approach" and refers to efforts to "secure an EU-funded package". What if Commissioner Borg who has a very good grasp of the fishing industry states to the Council of Ministers on 15 July that his package contains EU-funded measures and permits State funding? The Minister and Minister of State should have made us certain tonight that Irish fishermen will not be at a competitive disadvantage after 15 July vis-À-vis their French or Spanish counterparts, with whom they compete every single day when they go fishing. Their diesel prices and the prices they receive in the market are contingent on their playing on a level playing pitch. If it is the case that the French and Spanish exchequers are in a position to finance a state-aid measure, Irish fishermen must not be left swinging in the wind for the want of Exchequer funding.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The industry is worth €750 million and there are 12,000 employed therein. It operates almost exclusively in areas where other economic opportunities are not readily available. We cannot allow the opportunity that presents itself to pass. The Government's silence is deafening on the proposal that we match, euro for euro, the packages made available to fishermen by other exchequers. This silence is extremely disappointing and the Opposition will not accept a package, presented by the Minister on his return from Brussels, that does not ensure a level playing pitch.

The Government's amendment removes, in one fell swoop, all reference to a level playing pitch in dealing with sanctions for breaches of fishery legislation. All the fine words by the Government to the Federation of Irish Fishermen and the producer organisations will not wash with them as a consequence. The Government insults the intelligence of fishermen and their families by saying the regime in place is required to protect fish stocks and the long-term future of coastal communities and to seek to avoid financial penalties being imposed on the State and the Irish taxpayer. Shame on the Minister of State; this is not factually correct. The senior Minister, Deputy Smith, took the same terminology verbatim from the same word processor.

The European Commission is interested in the conservation of our stocks. So, too, are fishermen who depend on the stocks as they comprise the lifeblood of their industry. However, the Commission never stated fishermen should be criminalised for minor breaches of fishing legislation.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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This practice has been foisted on the industry solely by the House, and it is an issue that it can resolve.

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food considered this issue and obtained legal opinion that was entirely at variance with that given by the Attorney General. While the advice of the Attorney General is privileged, I want to see published the letter requesting the advice. If one frames a question in a particular way, one will receive the answer one wants. I do not believe it is impossible to change the law and introduce administrative sanctions.

If one commits an offence in respect of a REPS grant or headage payments, administrative sanctions apply. If one commits a road traffic offence, one is subject to an administrative sanction, as is the case with offences pertaining to inland fisheries. The criminal sanctions imposed on fishermen do not hold water legally. They are the result of the bully-boy tactics of the former Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. It was the spineless acquiescence of Fine Fáil backbenchers that allowed the legislation to be introduced that criminalised fishermen for minor offences.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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That should not be allowed to stand and I ask the Minister to correct the record of the House because the inclusion in this regard is factually incorrect.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister should go back to the Attorney General.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the contributions made by all my colleagues. I agree, in particular, with the point made by Deputy Kenneally. One of the weaknesses of the fishing industry during the years was its failure to speak collectively and coherently with one voice. However, what is now occurring in this regard is a new departure for the fishing industry. The IFA is not the premier league pressure group by default. It is cohesive, speaks with one voice and pursues its objectives relentlessly. When fishermen stand united and express their views coherently, they will deliver. We cannot allow the industry to go down.

I pay tribute to those in the Federation of Irish Fishermen and the producer organisations from Killybegs to south-west Cork who, as the Minister of State and Opposition Members know, tirelessly advocate on behalf of, and work endlessly behind the scenes to deliver for, their organisations. As for administrative sanctions, this was a slap in the face to them and their efforts. While the Minister of State has made the correct soundings, his speech was off-keel tonight and was not what is required to resolve the issue of administrative sanctions. Some of these issues are outside our control and must be determined in Europe. Others, however, rest within the capacity of this House to deliver.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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All it would take is the political will.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government does not have it.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Financial assistance is required urgently. Almost as important is the removal of the threat of criminality that hangs over the industry.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Healy-Rae will not let us down tonight.