John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, to the House for this important debate which I thank the Leader of the House for arranging.

I welcome the report which is being considered by the House. It is a useful addition to what has become a very public and loud debate. I do not doubt the bona fides of any of the members of the sub-committee or the joint committee. I thank the Chairman, Deputy O'Flynn and Members of this House who are members of the committee — Senators Finucane, MacSharry, and O'Meara. I thank in particular Senator Kenneally who is a member of the sub-committee, for his work and for his explanation to the House this afternoon.

The Progressive Democrats wish to protect and preserve the salmon stocks and therefore the party actively seeks the cessation of drift netting at sea. We mean a cessation, not a set-aside, not new quotas, not new management schemes——