Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am pleased we have this opportunity to bring to the House the important issue of the Irish fishing industry. I listened with interest earlier to some of the comments made on the Order of Business in regard to this debate and other matters. From a political perspective, since we joined the European Union in 1973, our fishing industry has been very much a poor relation. Not surprisingly, there is a sense of despair, pessimism, doubt and disillusionment in our fishing and coastal communities, towns and villages. It was sadly significant that a large "No" vote in the Lisbon treaty referendum held last June was recorded in our coastal communities. The people of those regions felt, rightly or wrongly, that the European project not only has been of no benefit but also has negatively impacted on our fishing industry. They decided they had had enough and came out in record numbers to vote "No". I was disappointed with that decision by those people but it was a strong signal by our fishing communities and the men and women involved in the fishing industry that the Irish Government and the European Union had let them down and they had had enough. It is something all political parties which have shared power to some degree since 1973 must acknowledge. The Irish fishing industry has gone from bad to worse. Therefore, we certainly need a new beginning.

It is appropriate we are having this discussion at a time when the Minister, his officials and colleagues are commencing a review of the Common Fisheries Policy. I appreciate it will be a tough one. There are no easy options or choices available to the Minister of State. At the core of our negotiations must be the need to rebuild the Irish fishing industry and, as the Minister of State said, take note of the fact that Irish coastal communities, towns and villages have been very dependent on the fishing industry. Therefore, we cannot let them fade away.

There are many issues we can discuss now, whether it be the Cawley report or fuel prices, but the bottom line is that we need to plan for the future. An opportunity is presented by this review to mark a new beginning for the industry. As we are debating the fishing industry in the House, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is debating the future of the milk quota regime in Europe. The introduction of the milk quota regime in 1983 was significant. It stabilised prices and rebuilt, albeit with difficulty, the dairy industry not only in Ireland but throughout Europe. Now a new way forward is being charted for the dairy industry. Let us hope that something similar can be done for the fishing industry, which is a great natural and historical industry, and that the review can be built on solid foundations. The agreements this country entered into as part of our joining of the then European Economic Community in 1973 resulted in the fishing industry being severely disadvantaged. We have been paying a heavy penalty since then and we certainly need a new beginning.

While many crises have faced the industry, I will deal with some of the current issues which the Minister of State attempted to address in his contribution. I acknowledge that his contribution was, as he said, optimistic and realistic. Fuel prices have played a major role in making the life of our fishermen more difficult during the past 12 months. The statistics I have to hand suggest that the cost of a ten-day fishing trip has increased from €7,000 to €17,000 during the past four years. The European Commission suggests that marine fuel prices have increased by 240% since 2004. Such fuel increases have placed a huge financial burden on those in the industry. It is a cliché to say that something must be done about this. For an industry which is already at the end of its tether in regard to its financial parameters, to see fuel prices increasing by 240% is a massive financial burden. We are advised that 75% of a trawler's turnover is spent on fuel. That makes the possibility of earning some degree of profit almost impossible. I acknowledge that during the past month or two since those figures were compiled there has been some roll back on fuel prices, but fuel costs still pose a significant difficulty for the industry.

The Cawley report is seen as being of almost biblical importance. Admittedly, it does chart some way forward. We have debated the report in the House previously and there is general political support for it. However, moving from the compilation and production of the report to its full implementation has proved to be difficult. The progress to date on that has been modest to a certain degree. As it is the blueprint we have set out and agreed, it is important the Government puts the necessary plans and expenditure in place to implement its recommendations as soon as possible. While we acknowledge the necessity for the report, its recommendations signify the raising of the white flag because we are almost suggesting and putting in official print the fact that the industry will have to shrink in size and fewer numbers will remain in it. It is only through a reduction in the numbers in the industry that some people will make a financial living from it. If that is to be the case, so be it. Government assistance obviously is required.

The Minister of State mentioned the new economic dispensation. I acknowledge the distressing state of Government finances and that the taxpayer is being put to the pin of his or her collar, but funding will be required if the Cawley report is to be implemented in full. There is little point in partially implementing that report because its recommendations are presented as an avenue forward. Financial assistance will have to be given by way of State aid. This has been discussed not only at national level but also at European level and has received approval. We now need hard cash to make it attractive for those people who wish to leave the industry. It is disappointing that many people will see no other option but to take the opt outs available to them. However, if at least this measure results in a much reduced number of people in the industry with the possibility of earning a decent income, that is something we must welcome. However, it can only happen if the necessary financial support measures are put in place.

I wish to refer briefly to a few other matters, one being the need to ensure our industry will not be disadvantaged relative to our competitors within the European Union as a result of the Commission decision to permit state aid in certain circumstances. This caused deep upset to our fishing communities in the run-up to the Lisbon treaty referendum. That decision should not have been part of that debate but, inevitably, it became part of it. Our fishing communities genuinely feel their competitors across the European Union are in receipt of various state aids and state advantages which they do not have receive. Our industry is now in a severe crisis. That matter needs to be tackled.

The Minister of State mentioned the increased of consumption of fish owing to it being a healthy food, in which there is scope for further growth. There is still a difficulty with the branding and marketing of Irish fish. We could do considerably more in these areas to improve consumption, demand, price and profit for the Irish fishing industry. We will obviously return to this debate and will concentrate more fully on the review, which is the core of the work of the Minister of State. We need to aspire not just to allow the industry to continue but to develop it to its maximum potential. We need to ensure the maximum number of people will have a prospect of remaining in the industry. Apart from agriculture and forestry, it is our oldest industry and our coastal communities are highly dependent on it.

What has happened since 1973 has been tragic. Admittedly it is now history. We cannot rewrite history and we will not leave the European Union. Even at this very late stage we must acknowledge that policies pursued over our 35 years' membership of the European Union have been very unfriendly to our fishing communities. We must give some commitment to redress the balance and ensure survival of our fishing industry into the future.