This is not the first time we have dealt with this issue. It is fair to say the fishing industry is - I would like to say apoplectic but I believe it is actually beaten down by the situation and circumstances in which it finds itself. It sees the deal a number of months ago rightfully as a betrayal of the fishing industry. It puts 2,300 coastal community jobs in immediate danger. We are talking about 57 tonnes less quota to fish each year, a loss of €94 million to the industry. Wider economic impacts are up on €200 million. We know exactly what has happened. We are talking about the closure of factories. We are talking about it not being viable in any way for fishermen and fisher communities to continue doing what they have done for centuries. We have often been in here talking about sustainable farming, but I do not think anyone has even used the term "sustainable fishing" because we have not seen it in any way from the point of view of it being sustainable for those people and their families who have done this for generations. Again, it is not the first time it has been brought up in relation to the particular issues in Clogherhead, where we have had, let us be clear, illegal operators that have put real pressure on fishermen. We are talking about operators from abroad. We are talking about health and safety and every rule and regulation being absolutely overlooked. Not that long ago I was contacted by a man who works in the field. It was about another sunken boat. He said he rightfully has to go through the ins and outs of health and safety procedures. He needs to ensure he has a sufficient level of staff. He needs to ensure that everything is done absolutely by the book. He spoke to the people who were involved in this sunken ship or boat and then he actually went to Clogherhead Harbour and saw them in operation. There were no winches and no protections. There were a number of people doing really unsafe things without the proper gear. They literally laughed him off when he told them about the issues. I brought up this issue, as did he, with Louth County Council. The council is aware of the issue. I believe it has happened in other ports and harbours. They are looking at ensuring that pressure will be put on to change this. We need to make sure that we have a full-time resource and that there is a full-time person with responsibility as harbour master. We need to ensure that all that is done. I ask first of all, however, that we revisit what has been an absolute disaster and betrayal of the fishing industry. There is a very specific piece of work that needs to be done in the likes of Clogherhead and throughout the entire State from the point of view of cutting out this illegality that is cutting away from those people who have fished for generations.

Sentiment score: -0.02