Seanad debates

Thursday, 19 June 2008

11:00 am

Photo of Brian Ó DomhnaillBrian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I wish to refer to the fishing industry in this country, which is currently experiencing major difficulties. The global cost of fuel is impinging negatively on the industry and it is affecting fishing fleets on the west coast, the east coast and the south coast of the country. I applaud the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, on the discussions they held in Athlone last weekend, which were constructive and were welcomed by the fishing federation and the industry. While the outcome of the discussions was positive the Government has no control over the matter, which has been discussed by the European Union and in the Commission. It appears the EU will provide some mechanism to member states to allow them to approve additional moneys for vessels and fishing fleets in Ireland to subsidise the high cost of fuel. I very much welcome that initiative. We should address the matter in this House prior to the summer recess. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the House for a debate prior to the summer recess to give us all an opportunity to discuss the matter with him and to commend him for the work he has done to date on the issue, which is a crisis situation.

Two weeks ago I raised the blockades in French ports of crab and lobster being exported from Ireland. There has been some lifting of that blockade in France, but only some, as blockades are still in place. That is another issue that we can perhaps discuss when we have that debate.

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