Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach might give me a little latitude given that not many Members are seeking to contribute.

The scourge of spurdogs is another matter that needs to be addressed. It particularly affects smaller fishermen. Will the Minister outline what his Department is doing in this regard? lascaire Intíre Éireann is also very critical of the fishery management plans that have been put in place.

On compensation for storm damage, the lobster pot replacement scheme did not really deliver for fishermen who had lost gear, their vessels damaged and suffered a loss of income due to storms. A scheme introduced in the North seemed to be more comprehensive and practical. Perhaps the Minister might look at it. Eibhlín O'Sullivan of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, ISWFPO, has reiterated a request for a compensation scheme for demersal fishermen using EMFF as other member states such as the United Kingdom have done. Is it envisaged that such an application will be made?

The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation is also concerned that the seafood sector is once again facing significant job losses as a result of the proposed quota cuts. Ahead of the annual Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels in December, the European Commission has issued its proposals for quotas for 2015. They include significant reductions for a number of key species, both whitefish and pelagic. It is estimated that in the region of €70 million could be lost to the seafood sector, with a further sum of €147 million. It is submitted that the majority of those not directly involved in the fishing industry do not realise that in the past few years a significant number of Irish fishermen have been forced to leave the industry and are now unemployed. The ISWFPO has serious concerns in that regard and has I understand written to the Minister. It also notes that recent international events in Nigeria and Russia have had a cataclysmic impact on the prices Irish fishermen are receiving for their pelagic products.

Another issue revolves around the landing obligations being brought in at the beginning of 2015. This will mean that all fish caught must be landed, which will cause particular problems for smaller vessels as they will have to return to shore more frequently and may find themselves exceeding quotas and being penalised as a result. It is also unclear what is to be done with excess fish landed and fish not part of quota. There is great uncertainty and we hope the Minister can clarify matters.

Will the Minister outline the status of the Galway Bay fish farm project in the light of very serious concerns highlighted by the local community about the size, environmental impact and safety of the proposed fish farm, the serious questions raised internationally about the scientific evidence brought forward by BIM and the concerns aired by Inland Fisheries Ireland? Will the Minister now rule out this particular development in one of our greatest tourist assets? Surely, the ferocity of the winter storms should be reason enough to pull back from a project which has raised so many concerns.

I apologise to the Cathaoirleach for continuing, but we have been waiting to have this debate for a long time. The development of aquaculture in Ireland is a shambles because of the major backlog that has been highlighted. We have also seen very questionable practices engaged in by some operators in relation to planning regulations.