Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

That decision was implemented by his successor.

Today's edition of the The Times of London informs us that France has been fined £40 million "for years of ignoring the club rules". This relates to the punishment applied to that country for its continual disobedience of EU laws against catching undersize fish. Much of the debate on this legislation seems almost to take place in a vacuum, as if we are not members of the European Union and need only be concerned with tailoring the legislation to suit the interests of the fishing industry. It is an industry I greatly respect, particularly its presence in Senator McHugh's county of Donegal.

The Government must accept its responsibilities in this area. When one is in Government and there is the prospect of heavy fines if the correct action is not taken, it is not simply a question of doing what will maximise one's votes. It is sometimes necessary to take actions that are unpopular and may cost votes. In practice, however, people who take the correct action tend to be respected and do not lose nearly as many votes as one might believe.

In my would-be constituency of Tipperary South, all the representations I have received are in the other direction. I have had much correspondence on the need to stop salmon drift-net fishing and the potential of such a change for tourism. In an e-mail I received today requesting a meeting, the author observes that a "rehabilitated river shore would be a great asset to local tourism interests". The e-mail goes on to state:

It is no use just stopping the offshore interceptory fishery whose arrest can be blamed on the EU. Having stopped the offshore drift-nets, we then need to mind the rivers, and in my view, as a major part of this, we need to have a national salmon rehabilitation scheme heavily involving second level gap year students in a science environment project under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science.

There are other interests which have not been heard much in this debate. The Government must strike a balance between different and conflicting interests. It cannot simply side wholesale with one interest and abandon others. This is what governance is about.

Much has been made in this debate about the EU negotiations in the early 1970s. The reality is our fishing industry at that time was underdeveloped. Even though one can argue that we, in common with Britain, gave away, or were forced to give away, some of our expansion potential, the reality is that the fishing industry has expanded and modernised hugely in the last 30 years and is now far more productive. The notion of a fishing industry that is stymied and stagnant does not fit the statistics.

In debate, I deprecate attacks on civil servants and Departments which suggest their interests and corporate identity are somehow separate from and possibly even opposed to their Minister. There is a good convention that the Government takes responsibility, not for every last detail but in matters of strategic policy. The Government and Department are one and the same.

I support the Minister in his endeavours. I accept from listening to the debate that there may well be scope for further improvement and refinement on Committee Stage but I have no doubt the legislation is necessary. Senator McHugh will find as his political career progresses that nettles must be grasped sooner or later.