Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I also feel the timing around this legislation is wholly inadequate. Two years ago, when we discussed the legislation in the Seanad, we spoke about the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. One of the reasons for it being shelved was that process but now we are at the midnight hour, so it would seem appropriate to put this legislation on standby until we see what happens with the UK. That will have an impact on the legislation.

I echo some of the concerns raised this evening. In my area of Waterford and the south-east coast I have spoken to fishermen who are extremely concerned about the access that this legislation will grant to northern fishermen. Our mussel, crab and particularly lobster fishermen have been very innovative in conserving stocks in recent years in co-operation with the Minister, which is to be welcomed. It is a sign of supporting rural communities, enterprise and jobs. However, these fishermen have concerns about this legislation that should be considered without a doubt.

As a number of Senators have said this evening, there has been consultation but has it been truly meaningful? Have the fishermen who have contacted the Minister been involved in sufficient consultation? I echo the request of Senator Mac Lochlainn, who proposed that the Minister meet representatives of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum and the Kelly family. We are in the Seanad this evening while Mr. Gerard Kelly is outside on hunger strike because this is really important legislation for our fisheries. The timing is wrong, as I said, with respect to the United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union.As I have said, the timing is wrong with regard to the UK withdrawal and with regard to the consultation or lack of consultation. I urge the Minister to pause this legislation. As Senator Ó Domhnaill has said, this legislation has not been the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny. This crucial time of Brexit negotiations - we are at the midnight hour - could be a good time to pause this legislation and enable pre-legislative scrutiny to take place. Perhaps the Bill could be taken forward once more after some weeks or months have passed. I know this is highly political for the Minister and the Government. That is why the Bill is being rushed through now. The fallout from this legislation will be extremely negative for fisheries around Ireland.

I would like to make a point about vessels that are registered in Northern Ireland. My understanding is that these vessels are registered and regulated in the UK. I would like clarification on that. The voisinageagreement is approximately 50 years old. Mussel seed fishing by boats from Northern Ireland has been going on since 2002. The plaintiffs in the recent cases maintained that this largely self-regulated industry has pretty much collapsed since then. How can we maintain a stable and healthy mussel stock if boats have little regard for this area and do not abide by our management practices? The Minister said the other day that this is all about access, but I remind him that we are talking about access to natural resources that need to be maintained, managed and regulated in a way that supports the fisheries sector, the fishing communities I mentioned earlier and rural communities, enterprises and jobs.

Are we sure that if regulations are imposed on vessels coming from Northern Ireland, we will have full legal authority to impose regulations on boats that are not from this jurisdiction? How will that work? What are the specific legal implications of Northern Ireland boats taking mussel, crab or lobster seed, for instance, for cultivation in Northern Ireland? Is this not an alienation of the Irish natural seed resource? How are we going to protect our natural resources? I suppose that is the central point. The Minister's remit is to protect our natural resources. His job is to ensure our people in our country can have reasonable livelihoods. Fisheries communities are really on the lower end of decent livelihoods. How does the Minister intend to protect their livelihoods and enterprises? How does he intend to protect our resources? That is his job. He has this gift in his hand. I understand all the lovely voisinageand neighbourhood agreements. They are all very well and good. Are we going to stand here today and hand away a resource without proper management and regulation for our own people here in the Republic of Ireland?