Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael campaign promises to Irish fishing and fishing communities mean nothing, after their failure over successive governments to protect and support this vital sector.
Deputy Pringle said he was shocked to see Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil politicians and general election candidates now making promises to fishermen and fishing communities, saying what they would do if only they were in government.
He said “Well, they have been in government, and what have they done to help struggling fishermen? There have even been two Donegal Fianna Fáil marine ministers over the years, and Donegal fishermen and fishing communities continue to suffer.
“But now they expect voters to believe they will do something, if only they’re given another shot at it. It’s shameless.
“Our fishermen see other countries thrive off and overfish in our waters without sanction, while they struggle to get a meagre quota. While the EU gives further access to our waters to non-EU members, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, over successive governments, allow this to happen.
“We make up 12% of all fishing grounds and waters of the EU. We contribute massively and get almost nothing in return. Would any other European country or European Minister accept this?
“Unfortunately, many of these issues cannot be resolved until the Common Fisheries Policy is renegotiated, an issue I have raised numerous times over the years. We can’t count on Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael to push for this.
“We saw again during Brexit negotiations the government’s failure to fight in Europe for our fishermen, whose livelihoods have been so badly affected by their failures.
“We also need a government that will introduce a policy that recognises the importance of inshore fishing. And we must see specific financial supports introduced for fishermen who have seen their working season reduced significantly through no fault of their own.
“Our fishermen and fishing communities have been punished enough by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael failures. We need a government with the political will to stand up and fight for them.
“Over these last five years alone, I’ve raised issues affecting the fishing industry and the cause of the fishing industry more than 40 times in the Dáil. I am fully committed to advocating for policies that support our fishermen, protect our fishing rights and ensure fair quotas and the sustainability of this vital industry,” he said.
