Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I wish to first acknowledge the work of the Chairman of the committee, Deputy O'Flynn, the members of the sub-committee and of the committee in producing this report. It was a comprehensive exercise. In order to establish the findings, they examined 45 submissions and met many interested parties. It is not the first report to be produced on the salmon resource.

I am concerned that the issue might be siphoned off to be dealt with by the salmon commission. References to 2007 and scientific advice permeated the Minister of State's contribution. I take it from those references that it will be 2007 before any conclusions will be reached on this issue.

The debate on this matter has raged for too long. The Minister of State praised himself on the achievement of a 34% reduction from 2001 until recent times in the total allowable salmon catch. However, he must recognise that during that period there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of salmon coming into our waters. If he ignored that phenomenon, we would be at the loss of a large number of salmon. Therefore, he had to agree to a reduction in the total allowable catch over a period. He should not praise himself unduly in that regard.

The blockade of Rosslare Harbour by scallop fishermen received much television coverage during the summer. As a result of the blockade a €45 million package was put in place over a period of four weeks to decommission the fleet in question. The package worked out at approximately €640,000 for each of the vessels decommissioned.

The cost of a buyout of drift net licence holders seems to feature in the debate on this issue. It was suggested it could cost €25 million, equating the cost to that incurred in another country, while the Minister of State said it could cost up to €75 million in certain circumstances. However, anglers and others interested in this area are saying that if it is possible to find €45 million to decommission the vessels under the package to which I referred, why it is not possible to quantify at this stage what it would cost to implement the type of recommendations and findings embodied in this report? The report drew two main conclusions that related to a set-aside over a period of time and a voluntary buyout. My father was a net fisherman for many years so I am familiar with the Shannon estuary. Approximately 86 licensed net fishermen operate in the Shannon estuary, most of whom would agree to a buyout and exit drift net fishing. This is because they have seen their income decline over a period of time, year after year, because of the number of salmon being caught. This situation is replicated in many areas around the country. If there is a willingness and enthusiasm to undertake a buyout, it will happen.

The former Minister, Senator Brendan Daly, will remember the past controversy regarding the rod men. The Minister of State is likely to be confronted with a protest by anglers in Killarney next weekend. Anglers have a certain amount of ammunition on the basis of this report and want action. If there is a cohort of drift net fishermen who are prepared to accept the buyout, the Minister of State will be forced to do something about it. It is not necessary to wait until 2007, the year for which the next general election has been promised, or afterwards to take action. Action can be taken long before then.

A recent article in Innsight, the magazine of the Irish Hotels Federation, carried the heading "Is salmon drift netting harming tourism?". The article pointed out that salmon fishing is worth €55 million to the economy and that there was a decline in the number of anglers visiting Ireland from 54,000 in 1999 to 27,000 in 2004. A recent article in Trout and Salmon, which is circulated widely in the UK and considered the bible for many people involved in trout and salmon game fishing, described us as international outlaws because of our attitude to salmon. This is a regrettable statement to be made in any publication but the people reading it will be influenced by it and will not be encouraged to visit Ireland. The average number of bed nights spent by an angler coming over from the UK to fish for salmon is over 14 days. The west of Ireland and many other areas which became dependent on this type of angling over the years have seen a decline in their business and are extremely frustrated. Many segments of society are affected by this issue.

People involved in drift net fishing must receive appropriate compensation if they are to exit the business. However, if the Minister of State sets the tone with a compensation package, which was previously achieved over a short period of time to decommission a fleet of vessels, it can be achieved. I wish good luck to the scallop fishermen who received a compensation package.