Seanad debates
Thursday, 23 October 2003
Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage.
I will digress a little to voice my concerns about another area in the marine sector. Bord Iascaigh Mhara has always been identified with fish and it has been a successful marketing engine for the marine industry. I am concerned about talks, which appear to be at an advanced stage, on merging Bord Bia with BIM. Has this been thought out fully? I am concerned for the marine industry and the respect it is accorded. It suffered a blip with the formation of the new Government when people in the industry felt it was being left out because it was no longer a separate ministerial entity. However, it was combined with communications and natural resources and they were reasonably happy with that. This industry is having problems at present, particularly with regard to the catch it is permitted, and this development will aggravate it further. I will be surprised if there is not an outcry against the proposal to merge BIM with Bord Bia.
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