Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

As it is getting late and a number of the statistics I had planned to reveal have been mentioned, I will cut to the chase and pick out some points that have not been raised. I welcome the Minister of State. This time last year he achieved a large quota for the Irish fishing industry in the teeth of opposition and I wish him well in his forthcoming endeavours on that. The fishing industry is still very important to the Irish economy for its contribution to the gross national product and its employment potential, especially in rural, peripheral areas. I welcome this report because it singles out the fact that rural communities on the western seaboard have few other alternatives and it highlights the importance of fishing for them.

I will tell a sad, salutary tale which I hope will not be repeated. I have strong feelings on this because it deals with my forbears. Perhaps the Cathaoirleach is familiar with the village of the Cashen on the estuary of the River Feale in north Kerry. For centuries it had a thriving salmon industry. Salmon was caught by draft net, whereby one person stands on the bank with a net while others row a boat in the middle, and they bring in their haul of salmon. It goes back almost to the time of Jesus Christ.

When I was first elected a councillor 25 years ago, there was still great hope that this industry could flourish into the new millennium. In my foolishness as a young councillor it was one of my ideals that we would develop it and bank it, but finally I must virtually sing its requiem. That is a sad announcement for me to make.

There were many changes of Government during those decades of neglect, there was a reduction in the fishing season and wholesale slaughter of salmon by drift net fishermen and their monofilament nets. This industry kept a community going. It filled the pubs of Ballybunion on winter nights and the shops of Listowel. All that is gone. I thank the Minister for his initiative in commissioning this report to see if we can save and develop what is left of our industry.

The markets have been mentioned. As a businessman I know there is no point in having a product if one is unable to sell it at a profit. During the recent food health debate in this House, I criticised the fact that Irish whiskey is second in the international markets to Scotch, while everybody knows Irish whiskey is infinitely superior to the best Scotch. Likewise we see South American steak restaurants all over the world but no Irish steak restaurants. I see chains of Norwegian seafood bistros and delicatessens throughout Europe and see no reason Irish seafood should not be promoted. The Cawley report is committed to the idea of Ireland as a seafood nation.

On a lighter note, there is an excellent restaurant in Leinster House and, as one would expect, a fish dish is on the menu every day. However, it staggers me that seven times out of eight the fish is cod. Why is that? There is little profit in cod for Irish fishermen and most of that cod is imported. I am sure cod is good for one. The general public thinks it is all a cod in here so let us not reinforce that misapprehension.

I contacted some of my friends in Fenit this morning. Their dilemma is that if they are fishing for oysters and lobsters in season, they must get two separate permits and two separate boats. That is ridiculous. The Minister should examine this anomaly. With due deference to my colleague from Donegal, a bugbear of the southern fishermen is that their boats are not as big as those of the fishermen in Killybegs who get approximately 75% of our quota. There should be a more equitable distribution of quota between the big operators, who usually bring their catch ashore in the Shetlands, Norway or such places, and our fishermen who bring their catch ashore to O'Catháin Iasc in Dingle.