It is great to have this debate in the House. As the Minister of State knows, fishing is a very important industry for County Louth. It is a working industry, from Carlingford Lough right up to Port Oriel and at all the small landing points along our coast. These businesses are employing local people, sustaining families and contributing directly to the regional and national economy. The reality is that, in many ways, we have let down our fisheries in this country, and that is exactly how our fishing communities feel. I understand that sentiment. We have seen Irish boats tied up while foreign vessels continue to fish waters that Irish fishermen have depended on for generations. We have seen intergenerational fishing businesses disappear, not because of a lack of willingness to work but because of a lack of fairness, certainty and confidence in the system. Stocks must be protected. That is not optional. Sustainable management is essential. However, sustainability without equity is not sustainable in any meaningful sense whatsoever. Irish fishermen are asked to comply with quota reductions of almost 70% in key species like mackerel. Those reductions are based on scientific advice. They must be respected, but they must be respected by everyone, not just by Irish vessels and the small inshore fleets, but by all vessels operating in Irish waters. The problem is that confidence in enforcement remains weak. I have spoken to many fishermen in Clogherhead. They are exhausted and feel incredibly disheartened by what they see going on in our waters. The Minister of State will hear from them in a couple of weeks when he visits Louth. Parliamentary replies have confirmed that landings have, in some instances, exceeded scientific recommendations, and that investigations and prosecutions are limited relative to the scale of the industry. That undermines confidence. It creates a perception and, in some cases, a reality that compliance is uneven. We need far better focus on monitoring and enforcement. We need proper inspection of catches at landing, secure and tamper-proof vessel monitoring systems, and oversight of what is being caught, landed and exported. We also need proper enforcement of crew regulations. All crews must be legally employed. All licensing conditions must be respected. The law cannot be selectively applied. There must also be oversight and management of our harbours and piers. Abandoned or derelict vessels create safety risks, obstruct access and reflect a wider failure of oversight. If we are serious about managing our maritime infrastructure, we must police and maintain it properly. This is not about over-regulation but about enforcing the laws we already have. Irish fishermen and fisherwomen are not looking for special treatment. They are looking for fairness, consistency and a level playing field. They cannot compete if foreign vessels benefit from access while Irish quota shrinks. They cannot plan for the future if enforcement is inconsistent, and they cannot sustain intergenerational business in an environment of uncertainty. The fishermen of Carlingford Lough, Port Oriel and right along the coast of County Louth operate in difficult conditions. They comply with regulations. They contribute to our communities. They are not asking for guarantees but they are entitled to fairness and to proper protection for their industry. I know the Minister of State agrees with all of this, and that we need sustainable and equitable fisheries management. That means protecting fish stocks, enforcing quotas, policing our waters effectively and ensuring that Irish fisheries are not placed at a structural disadvantage in their own waters. We must take advantage of our EU Presidency this summer to secure target supports specifically for our fishing industry. That is not an unreasonable expectation but a basic responsibility of the State.

Sentiment score: 0.11