Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I welcome the Minister of State. The debate on this matter relates to the fact that the MFV Skifjord sank in October 1981 and that five people, Mr. Francis Byrne, his 16 year old son, Jimmy, and three other crew members died. Mr. Byrne left behind a widow, five sons and three daughters. Where is the humanity in this debate? The debate has become a political football that is being kicked around, principally by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. This matter should have been settled before the moving of the motion. I do not believe the debate in which we are engaging will lead to it being settled.

Will the Minister of State ensure the matter in question is dealt with, especially in view of the fact that Mr. Byrne's widow has been obliged to live with her grief for 29 years? For almost ten years, issues relating to it have been raging back and forward. The Ombudsman produced a 105-page document in which a clear recommendation is made. To a large extent, I appreciate Fine Gael's position in respect of this matter. I share the view of a previous speaker, however, that the party is, unfortunately, using it as a political football.

The Ombudsman has made it absolutely clear there was maladministration involved in the lost at sea scheme. One can dress it up whatever way one likes but maladministration involves a lack of integrity and, therefore, corruption. This was not a good scheme. In fact, it was an appalling scheme.

Like previous speakers, I do not wish to revisit the entire matter. I wish to place on record, however, a view expressed by the Department on 10 November 2000. I refer to a letter which states that the skippers, Mr. Faherty and Mr. Mullen, of the MFV Joan Patricia and the MFV Spes Nova,both of which were lost at sea, be informed that, regrettably, it is not possible to accept the capacities of their vessels as replacement capacities. Speakers on the Opposition side referred to these two vessels in the context of the 75% of tonnage allocated under the scheme going to the Galway West constituency. The letter to which I refer states that the overriding problem in respect of accepting the two vessels for the scheme is where it would stop. That is precisely the same language with regard to the Byrne family's vessel, the MFV Skifjord. Having attended all the meetings of the relevant committee, I am of the view it is imperative for the political system to ensure the Byrne family are dealt with in a fair and equitable manner.

The integrity of the Ombudsman is at question in this. That is my principal concern and not all the political nonsense that has surrounded this issue. The political system has failed the Byrne family and I and my party believe this matter must be dealt with. It absolutely will not be dealt with by means of a vote on the motion. I regret that the matter is being used to drive a wedge between the Government parties. It is clear where my party stands. Deputy Sargent, in a letter to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, asked on behalf of my party to ensure that this issue was dealt with at the committee. It happened that there were the various different reports at the committee. We examined it in detail. I was of the view, which I expressed quite clearly at the committee even though I am not a member of it and did not have a vote on it, that we should come to a conclusion on this and that the issue in this report should be dealt with fairly and equitably.

I agree with the views opposite that the integrity of the Ombudsman is not in question here. That is not the issue. As Members have said, the Ombudsman has submitted her report. I quote from her media release:

While the Department is free in law to reject the Ombudsman's recommendations, this is only the second time in the twenty-five year history of the Office that this has happened. The first occasion was in 2002 in a case involving the Revenue Commissioners, which, with the assistance of the Oireachtas, was ultimately resolved to the then Ombudsman's satisfaction.

On behalf of the Green Party, I met Ms Emily O'Reilly and she suggested that we would bring it to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. That has happened but, unfortunately, the matter did not end there. It should have ended there.

I ask the Minister to take on board what I am saying, that this should end after tonight and that the Government of which the Green Party is part would come to a conclusion of this issue. It is vital that the political system is seen to work and that the integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman is upheld.

I will not vote against the motion as put forward by the Opposition, but at the same time I feel it is being used as a political football here and I regret that. I really wish that accommodation had been found at the level of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food because that is what the committees are for.

I cannot plead often enough that accommodation is found for this matter, that we bring it to a conclusion honestly in memory of Mr. Francis Byrne, his son and the other members of the crew, and that we bring closure to this on behalf of the Byrne family. We are in a difficult financial position at present. This will not make or break the Government. We need to find a conclusion and we need to bring closure. That is what I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Connick, to do.