Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

Senators will be aware of a meeting commencing in Brussels today that will probably be the most important ever to have taken place concerning our fishing industry since we joined the EEC in 1973. We had a wide ranging discussion on the fishing industry last week while debating the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill. It would be appropriate, therefore, for the House to convey its good wishes to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in his deliberations. He faces a tough job in conducting those negotiations so I am sure we all wish him well in trying to secure as good a deal as he can for our fishing industry.