I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter. It is ironic that I do so because in the last few moments I have been advised that in all probability the fishermen in Howth and, indeed, those around the country, may well be able to put to sea tomorrow. Things are looking better. In the event that they cannot, I hope that things will, at least, be brighter for them.
I raised this matter with the Minister for Social Welfare, who is a constituency colleague, on 20 February last and I got a very detailed response indicating that share fishermen should be entitled to benefit if certain normal contributory conditions were satisfied, and if not, then unemployment assistance should be available to them. I regret I have to pursue the matter further tonight because while those might be the views of the Minister, to date they have not been a reflection of reality on the ground because fishermen are not being assisted by his Department. I think there is a logjam problem there that needs to be resolved.
The matter received very extensive and detailed coverage in the Irish Press on 21 February 1990, where the problem of fishermen was coined very well in the phrase that the fishermen were caught and squeezed between the Department of Social Welfare regulations and the weather, or, proverbially, between the devil and the deep blue sea. As share fishermen they are considered to be self-employed and consequently they are told on presentation to the Department's offices that they are not entitled to assistance. When it comes to the issue of benefit it is a question of assessment and investigation. Invariably, when the officials call the fishermen are standing by their nets on the pier in the hope that the weather will turn and they are left in the situation where on the surface it would appear they are gainfully employed or, at least, in preparation of it, and consequently they are not facilitated.
I highlight Howth because, as the second most profitable port in the country and the eighth largest, it is in my constituency. I hope that what I say tonight will be said on behalf of all fishermen. It is estimated that there are currently approximately 1,500 boats tied up in our harbours affecting the lives and incomes of 3,500 fishermen and their families, often young families. In Howth there is a regular fleet of 35 boats, all of which are tied up at present, and between 130 and 150 regular fishermen are currently without income because of the difficulties they face. Fishermen accept that the winter brings with it inclement weather and good fishing. In the past during the lulls in the bad weather they had opportunities to fish but that has not proved to be the case this year. It is estimated that they have managed to snatch ten days fishing and no more since Christmas. Each morning the boats are assembled and the nets put on board before they put out to sea in the hope that the weather will break but each time they have been beaten back.
Credit must be given to the skippers both in Howth and right around the country who have on a voluntary basis provided their crews with contributions to see them through but that money has now dried up. I ask the Minister to address the problem in a practical way. I understand that he met a delegation of the fishermen and their skippers this afternoon who were very pleased with his response. I have been asked to put on record their appreciation of his willingness to meet them, even though he represents their constituency, for acknowledging the difficulties they face and promising to put matters right. If the matter is addressed in this way I ask the Minister to put on record the resolution so that if the problem occurs again there would be no ambiguity or doubts. I, along with the fishermen, have been standing back in the hope that the weather will break and they will not be put to the pin of their collars, a position in which they now find themselves, and that we will have on record a clear resolution to the problem.
I also ask the Minister to consider the question of a back payment. It is acknowledged that share fishermen have done no serious fishing or been in receipt of income since Christmas and that they have been living on borrowed money and handouts since that time.
The final matter I would like to bring to the attention of the Minister who is a constituency colleague of mine, and consequently a representative of the fishermen, concerns the skippers. If a difficulty arises in the agricultural sector, such as flooding or inclement weather which beats down hay or food stocks, there is immediately a clamour in this House for a special EC aid package. I appeal tonight on behalf of the fishermen of Howth and the rest of the country and, in particular their skippers, for some attempt to be made to find funds to relieve the difficulties now facing fishermen and their skippers. It was pointed out to me today that the quarterly repayments on boats amount to upwards of £10,000 and that £250 per week is needed to cover the cost of insurance and the provision of electronic equipment. On top of this skippers have been giving handouts to their crews and families to tide them over this difficult period. An urgent case can be made for a relief package involving EC funds or funds from the coffers of the Department of the Marine for the fishermen. I ask the Minister to join with me in raising this matter on behalf of the fishermen of Howth and the rest of the country with his colleague, the Minister for the Marine, to see if a special package can be provided.
In conclusion I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this matter and I thank the Minister for taking it so late in the evening.
