Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Connick. I know him from our time as urban councillors and recognise the service he gave to our organisation, the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, as its president. While his elevation to ministerial office is important to him, his family and constituency, it is also a great fillip for town councillors everywhere to see one of their own rising steadily up the ladder.

There is an Alice in Wonderland aspect to this debate. We had a full discussion on this issue about two weeks ago and there were also statements made in the Lower House. On that occasion the Government offered to deal with it in committee but the Opposition rejected this. It is rather ironic that that is what the Opposition motion before us is seeking. The joint committee has now taken the initiative to invite the Ombudsman to meet it, which renders the motion somewhat foolish.

The scheme was a positive attempt to deal with a situation in which bereaved fishing families found themselves. I commend the Minister who introduced the scheme, Deputy Fahey, who was the subject of a snide remark by an Opposition Senator. It is easy to take a shot and then run out the door, but I do not like this in any walk of life. The former Minister did the right thing and there is absolutely no evidence or proof of any wrongdoing or departure from normal procedures in the way the scheme was handled. Innuendo and hints to the contrary are absolute rubbish. We had better talk plainly.

I am sorry to say the first person to cast a slur on the scheme was a Kerryman, Mr. Joe Higgins, who is now an MEP. He made outrageous remarks at the time in the Dáil and has not had the courage or decency to withdraw them since.

Who will be served by this debate? My heart goes out to the Byrne family and any other bereaved family. I know about the tremendous risks and dangers involved in sea fishing, but this debate will not turn back the clock.

When introduced, the scheme was subject to conditions, like all other Government schemes. The conditions included a deadline, as well as other elements. In addition, the scheme was advertised. I am not satisfied with the argument that it was not advertised properly because there was targeted advertising in trade journals. Anyone who knows anything about farmers and fishermen will know that that is the right way to reach them because they quickly pick up on what is going on. If there are grants going, they are the first to know about them, even before we know ourselves. If people did not tick all the boxes, however, they did not qualify.

The Ombudsman is highly respected and criticising her is like criticising Mother Teresa of Calcutta or the Pope.