Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

10:40 am

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator David Norris on the difficulties pertaining to nurses. Soon, we will have lost an entire generation of nurses to foreign soil which is something we will regret down the road. I concur with the remarks of Senator Colm Burke in regard to general practitioners. The proposal, as presented to them, is unworkable, will not succeed and will cause damage to service.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the fishing industry, particularly, in regard to inshore fishermen. These are the fishermen who go out in small boats of 18 ft. to 22 ft. For most of the past four months, given the appalling weather conditions, storms, huge tides and waves, they have been unable to fish. They depend on the weather for a window of opportunity. They are classified as self-employed. I met a met a group of the fishermen last Sunday, most of whom find it almost impossible to put bread on the table for their families. As they are classified as self-employed, I suggest they seek fish assist from the social welfare office. Having asked officials from the Department of Social Protection about this scheme, I do not think it has ever been utilised. These men were shrimp fishing, lobster fishing, crab fishing, scallop dredging and gillnetting for pollock, which is seasonal. There are 120 to 130 such fishermen in my constituency and many around the country who are not represented and are not in any association.

I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to intervene with the Minister for Social Protection, to ensure in the event of severe storms, when it is obvious the fishermen cannot go out to sea, a mechanism is put in place whereby they can short-circuit the system to get social welfare. At the social welfare office they are told, as they are self-employed, to come back in 12 months time with their account and to prepare a report. It is a crazy system and I am aware it is a system the Minister inherited. I raised the issue about ten years ago when my party was in government. Almost 12 months ago, in April or May 2013, the Leader gave a commitment for a debate on the fishing industry. I am aware we have had a debate on farming but a debate on the fishing industry generally is well over due. I will not push for a vote on it today but if, in the next couple of weeks, I do not have a commitment from the Minister to come to the House on these issues I will certainly seek to table an amendment to the Order of Business.

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