Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to briefly add to and support the comments of colleagues, including Senator Wilson, who was the last Member to speak on the issue of the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill. This is a sensitive time in North-South relations. I believe it is the wrong time to be introducing this legislation, to be quite frank about it. This legislation was before these Houses two years ago and the Minister did not have the support to proceed at that time. The fact that he has not consulted at all in the intervening period with fishermen, either in the Republic or in the North, leaves a lot to be desired. The fact that the Taoiseach raised public comments about this Bill last week and the Minister appears to be bringing it in here just before St. Patrick's Day means that it is rushed legislation. That is wrong and there has been no consultation. It would lead to the widespread exploitation of our natural resources within the six-mile limit. That is something that needs to be discussed and managed very carefully and sensitively. This Bill does neither of those things. Consequently, this Bill should not come before this House until such time as proper consultation occurs with the fishing industry, particularly the inshore fishermen right along the coast. This impacts fishermen, in particular in areas like Dundalk and Donegal, and they have not been consulted at all. Their livelihoods are at stake. We are talking about hundreds of jobs here that potentially could be wiped out as a result of the introduction of this Bill. Any attempt to introduce this Bill tomorrow will be opposed from this side of the House during the Order of Business tomorrow.