Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleagues for a very good debate yesterday on the fishing industry and thank the Leader for organising it. Bearing in mind the fishing industry is one of Ireland's smaller industries, I note the great support received from my colleagues in Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Even Senator Norris was very encouraging.

I would like a broad debate on farming and fishing. The fishing sector can, in the next five years, provide over 20,000 jobs, provided there is a level playing field. Unfortunately, vessel numbers are declining. For example, the number of vessels fishing from Castletownbere port has halved in the past decade and the number of people involved in fishing has reduced by more than half, yet the number of enforcement officers has quadrupled. Our farming and fishing sectors are subject to more stringent compliance regimes and regulations than any other EU country.

In the new year, I would like to debate the provision of jobs. The stimulus to reactivate our economy will come from indigenous natural resources, such as farming and fishing resources. These served us well in recessions in the past and there is no doubt they will do so again. I am absolutely encouraged by the fact that the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Seán Connick, returned from Europe with a very positive package that was heralded and lauded by the fishing industry nationally. This is positive in these recessionary times. We must do something to encourage the development of mariculture, aquaculture and the fishing industry generally, and the development of value added products in agriculture. Such development can serve as a stimulus in that jobs will be created if we ensure the rules and regulations are as fair in Ireland as they are in other EU countries.