John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

The Progressive Democrats policy position was arrived at following careful consideration and consultation and adopted by its general council in March 1999, six years ago, contrary to what has been alleged in some quarters. At that time the general council of the party endorsed the policy for the following five reasons: first, because of the continuing decline in wild salmon catches in Ireland for almost 25 years prior to 1999; second, the recognition that offshore drift netting of migrating salmon was a primary cause of that decline; third, Ireland's increasing international isolation in allowing the practice of drift netting; fourth, the acceptance of the overwhelming economic and tourism arguments; and fifth, the recognition that a compulsory buyout and appropriate compensation was the best and only way to achieve the objective of saving Ireland's salmon resource.