Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Not alone do they want to get rid of the Minister for Justice and Equality, but Senator Walsh mentioned that he is now questioning the ability of the Garda Commissioner to carry out his duties. They want to get rid of everybody, I suppose. That is their own viewpoint. The Minister will certainly respond to those issues in the other House.

With regard to the point raised by Senator O'Donovan, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has had major success in the Common Fisheries Policy negotiations. This success has been acknowledged by all and he has been complimented on numerous occasions in this House on the issue of discards. He has come into this House and is in constant contact with fisheries organisations throughout the country.

With regard to the comment that fishermen are being treated as second class citizens by this Government, I reject that totally. It was the Senator's own Government that made criminals out of fishermen through legislation which it brought into the House, and others are trying to redress that situation through a Private Members' Bill.