Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)

Like all other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I welcome the fact that we have a Minster for fisheries now working on behalf of the Government. It is a really positive step forward in terms of the fishing industry.

I thank the Minister of State for his engagement so far across the country and for recently visiting Castletownbere and attending the AGM again. That is what we need to do. We need to listen to the communities, the stakeholders and the people who go on the boats because they know the industry the best. I thank the Minister of State for that work.

I put on record my appreciation for my colleague, Senator Manus Boyle, and his work on the fishing industry in the past number of years. He mentioned four years ago and the 300 people who attended the public meeting. I thank the Senator for his work. The fishing communities I represent in west Cork are deeply thankful to him. Any of us who listened to his contribution will hear the care and genuine desire he has to see improvements in the industry.I know the community watching will be thankful for that. The Minister of State was involved in ensuring that the programme for Government had a clear ask for a Minister of State for fisheries. I welcome also the appointment of Kieran Mulvey, who will chair the task force in terms of a strategy for the next five years. That is welcome movement on that. Those are the positives. We have been listening and we have been out there, but now we need to see the action. I respect that the Minister of State said we cannot roll back years. We cannot go back to the 1980s and look for a new deal. That time has passed. We need to start asking and demanding.

I travelled to the Beara Peninsula a number of months ago and listened dead straight to the people there. They have concerns about the years ahead. They want to see their sons and daughters get involved in the industry. At the moment, that certainty is not there. Senator Boyle outlined the statistics regarding our waters and the riches we have, yet the quota we have is nothing short of robbery. We all know that in this Chamber. We have to demand additional quota. There are changes we can make within the State, the Government and the budgetary process. I am delighted the Minister of State mentioned some of those factors, such as PAYE and tax credits. We need to make positive changes ourselves and we can do that. I would welcome the Minister of State’s engagement with the Minister for Finance on that matter. I have spoken about this, like Senator Manus Boyle has. Let us put on the green jersey and make change. Others outside of this country will decide on the quota. However, as has been said, if we all come together – political parties, Department officials, the finishing industry – we will achieve gains. There is light on the horizon and the fishing communities see that. We now need to see delivery.

I echo the contribution of Senator Duffy regarding our local piers and harbours. I welcome the fact that in Cork County Council, we have set up a new coastal management section, which is structuring and ensuring delivery and upgrade of our maintenance. Work could be done on streamlining that nationally.

I raised the issue of a mussel farm in west Cork on the Order of Business a number of weeks ago. I am sure the Minister of State is well aware of the recent granting of a licence for a commercial mussel farm in Kinsale. As I said a number of weeks ago, I am not a politician of protest. I do not get involved in populist politics. However, this granting of a licence for the development of a mussel farm in Kinsale Harbour is completely against what should be done. The community is united in its opposition to it. I understand an independent appeals process will take place and that submissions from a wide number of the community will be included. There is also a group coming to Leinster House tomorrow to hand in a petition, which I believe the Minister of State is aware of. More than 7,000 people have signed this petition. I would welcome a comment on it. I would like the Minister of State to meet the delegation from west Cork tomorrow. There is widespread community opposition to the farmt. It needs to be rejected. We have mussel farms throughout west Cork in indigenous areas on the Beara Peninsula, where local people have farmed mussel farms for a long number of years. This is different. This is a tourist centre and a commercial harbour where we have leisure activities. It is not wanted there. I would welcome the Minister of State’s words on that.

Finally, I again thank the Minister of State for what he is doing. It is recognised in the fishing community. However, now is the time for delivery. Let us see some positivity because it is needed.