Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague, Senator O'Neill, as he and I serve on the joint committee. At the meeting earlier today, Senator O'Neill raised this issue, which was unanimously agreed on by all members present from all parties and none. We discussed exactly what Senator O'Neill has outlined regarding the attitude towards discards. The issue has arisen in this House in the past few years. The Commissioner responsible for fisheries is already on record as saying she is against discards but there has been no further clarification or extension of those remarks on how she will deal with the issue. Running in parallel with the Common Agricultural Policy is a review of the Common Fisheries Policy, which is sometimes forgotten about. I share Senator O'Neill's concern, which mirrors the sentiment of the House and the general public, as a result of what we saw on our television screens last week. Monkfish is very expensive but it was handed out for free, and the individual responsible for that action will be subject to legal sanctions. Some comment should be made but there has been a deafening silence on the matter. I have heard no official reaction or response to what happened on Kilmore Quay last week other than what was in the media. If the boat owner in question had delayed his landing and left the boat on the quay, ferrying people to the boat to collect the fish, I wonder if that would have constituted landing the fish, as he would have been at sea. The chances are that it would have been a technicality and he would not have landed the fish. That shows the absurdity of this policy. I share the concerns raised in the elegant contribution from Senator O'Neill. I hope this will not be the end of the matter and the Leader will take cognisance of this, with at least some indication that there will be a response to comments.