Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask that at some stage some Minister would have the bravery and audacity to challenge Europe at the highest level and state that what we got in 1973 was wrong, it was an injustice and it is about time there was a fair adjustment for the Irish fishermen. Until such time as that is done, whatever Deputy Coveney will do next week or the following week about getting 20 tonnes extra, and losing a few tonnes of monkfish or gaining it in sole, megs or whatever, is only the stuff of Tweedledum and Tweedledee. We are always praising him. In the past I have said, against Ministers of my own party, that it will be so until such time as we properly renegotiate the quota allocated to Ireland.

We in this House must remember what many do not know, that Ireland has almost 25% of EU waters and only 4% of the quota. That is one of the greatest injustices to befall this country.