' Government need stand up for our fishing and coastal communities'

Sinn Féin's Donegal TDs Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty have accused the Government of failing to defend Ireland’s vital fishing interests in EU negotiations, warning that the consequences for coastal communities could be devastating.

In the Dáil, both Deputies outlined how the latest EU fisheries deal, along with the refusal to activate the Hague Preferences, represents a dereliction of duty by the government. 

Teachta Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said: “We need to speak out with passion about the rottenness of the Common Fisheries Policy and, I am sorry to say, the rottenness of the approach of the European Commission to all of this.

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“Let us talk about the big five. These are the Dutch corporations that dominate so much quota across the European Union. They control one sixth of the fish resource.

“The big five Dutch‑based corporations had more influence over the Netherlands, France, Germany and Poland than our country when it came to the Hague preferences. That is a shocking moment.

“Our Taoiseach has been absent without leave in relation to all of this. Everybody knows that they were able to influence those governments to stop the Hague preferences being invoked by Ireland. Now we are on our own.

“I believe these countries picked on this State of about 5 million people and utterly shafted us at the behest of major corporations.

" I am sorry to say it, but our Taoiseach is not at the table. He is not standing up for our interests."

Teachta Doherty added: “The EU fisheries deal represents another serious failure on the part of the Government to adequately defend Ireland's fishing interest. Coastal communities in places such as Killybegs in my constituency, Kilcar and elsewhere will feel it most acutely. 

"The Seafood Ireland Alliance is warning that this could mean a €200 million hit for the Irish fishing industry. If the Minister of State thinks that jobs will not be lost as a result of this, he is living in denial. It is an extraordinary figure. The consequences for Killybegs and many other areas and coastal areas will be profound.

“Under this new deal, the safeguards of the Hague preferences were not applied. Larger member states resisted and Ireland did not secure their activation. 

"We now face a situation where factories such as those in Killybegs could see their activity reduced to as little as ten or 12 days. The knock‑on effect will be significant.

“Similarly, vessels that should be at sea for extended fishing seasons may find themselves fishing for less than 10 or 12 days before being tied up. It is long past time that the Government stood up for the fishing industry and showed a bit of backbone."