Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The main message for the Minister tonight is that we are putting this Bill forward in good faith and are hoping to persuade him that a review of the 2006 Act is necessary. Such a review is overdue and I look forward to the Minister's response in that regard. There are serious problems facing the fishing industry which are festering and growing. They must be addressed at some stage. Now is not the time for those issues but I look forward to a comprehensive debate on them soon, as the Leader has promised. This Chamber, now that it has been saved, should be used more frequently. Debates should not be pushed out to the end of the year. I asked several times earlier this year for a debate on these issues but because of the Irish Presidency, I bowed to the fact that the Minister was extremely busy. I now hope that we will have a number of debates on key fisheries issues before Christmas or, failing that, early in the new year. That can only foster better relationships between fishermen and the Minister, all other politicians and the Department, by proving that we are all trying to do our best for the guys who are out there, working hard to make a living in very difficult circumstances.