Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I also welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him well in his important portfolio. While it is never too late to hold a debate on the fishing industry, Members have been late in beginning to discern what can be and must be done. More than 30 years have passed since Ireland joined the European Union and during that time, great strides were made in respect of the development of the agriculture and agrifood industries. Output has increased enormously and the number of people working in agriculture-related industry grew and peaked. Admittedly the numbers have now begun to level off. Simultaneously however, the fishing industry unfortunately appeared to work in reverse. The view has been expressed that in the debate on agriculture versus fisheries at European level, the fisheries industry lost out.

If one considers the matter from a political perspective, the manner in which responsibility for marine affairs has been moved around between Departments, as well as being named and renamed demonstrates that the industry has never received the political attention it deserved. It has been incorporated into different portfolios including Agriculture and Fisheries, Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Lands and Fisheries, Marine and Natural Resources, Defence and the Marine, Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as well as the Marine on its own for some time. The figures that Senator de Búrca has just cited demonstrate that this sector employs up to 11,000 people and has enormous export possibilities and potential. An industry of such significance certainly needs strong political leadership. However, that horse has bolted for the term of the present Government as responsibilities have been allocated to several different Departments. Nevertheless, we should revert to a single Department as soon as possible. Before the last general election, Fine Gael was committed to the creation of a full Cabinet Minister with responsibility for marine activities. While that has not occurred this time, I hope we soon will be in a position to establish a full Department of the marine with responsibility for all the issues under discussion in the House today, as well as many more that relate to the marine, aquaculture and fishermen nationwide.

The Cawley report offers the context for the present debate on fishing. From the point of view of the food industry, about which we spoke some weeks ago, there is a new willingness among people to consume fish. Fish is no longer a food for Friday, the first Friday of the month or Good Friday, which it might have been 30 years ago. It is part of the everyday diet. People associate fish with part of a good, healthy diet. We must take advantage of that change in people's psychological assessment of fish to try to grow and sustain the industry however we can.

Sustainability is crucial. We must concede that we cannot fish the waters clear, allowing no scope for growth. Sustainability is referred to in the Cawley report. It is a contentious and difficult issue for any Government because there has been the perception in the Irish fishing industry that the rules, regulations and controls under which Irish fishermen operate have not applied to our main competitors. There is much truth in it this perception and this has made it difficult to promote a regime of sustainability, control and quotas. The quota issue can be emotive and sensitive, as we found with the milk quotas in agriculture. However the quota regime is necessary. We must approach this with the aim of keeping the maximum number of people fishing and boats in operation, and we must plan for the future.

Quota management must be approached differently. Fine Gael suggested examining an alternative quota management arrangement with a view to developing a management regime that would accurately reflect the state of our fleet and fish stocks. Regarding conservation we advocate a stakeholder-driven technical conservation measurement system aimed at protecting fish stocks, and this should be placed on the EU agenda. This is a finite resource and requires management. In putting those management structures in place from a quota perspective we must examine how the Irish industry has been mistreated not only by Europe but by every Government since 1973. We must, in so far as we can, repair some of the damage and ensure the industry survives.

The Cawley report and other Government initiatives have a major role to play, but there must be a new level of political support. Politics does not serve our fishermen and coastal communities well because they lack the political impact of agriculture, which is spread across the country and has a strong lobby in almost every constituency. We must take cognisance of that and make up for the political deficit by reflecting on the figures, the significance of the industry to the country, the exports, the jobs and the question of retaining coastal communities as living political and social entities. We claim to be an island with a maritime history. If we also want a maritime future, a greater degree of political significance and attention must be attached to this industry.

The Cawley report has come about as a result of wide consultation. One can never get wide consensus, but people such as Mr. Joey Murrin, who have given a lifetime of service to the industry, will be able to give a clear lead. We must respond in so far as we can to this report and its recommendations. Senator McCarthy made the point that we have had many reports and recommendations and now we need action. The Minister is committed to responding positively to this report and no further delay is necessary. I repeat my only political point, that we need one Department to take overall charge as soon as possible for cohesion of planning and implementation. However that is a battle for another day. I support the fishing industry and demand that it be taken seriously by all Members of this House in all the political parties to make up for what we have not done in the past 30 years.