John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I join the leader of the Fine Gael group in thanking the young gardaí mentioned for their bravery. In what they did they represented the vast majority of members of the force who guard our safety and protect our rights.

As someone who comes from an inland county, I find it extraordinary that fishermen should not be able to fish just because their quota has been filled and that others can come into the same waters and continue fishing. It is probably the case that over several Governments the interests of fishermen were sacrificed in the interests of other sectoral groups. That is to be regretted and something to which I am sure the Minister will have regard when he deals with the issue. To draw a comparison, it is like saying a farmer would have to leave one quarter of his field for somebody to come in and harvest the crop he had grown.