Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Fishing Industry Jobs.

John Bruton

Question:

7 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give a breakdown on the achievement of the targets for 2,000 extra jobs in the sea fishing industry in paragraph 23 section 5 of the Programme for National Recovery; the number employed in this sector in (1) 1987 and (2) at the latest date for which figures are available; and his views on whether job creation in this sector has lived up to the targets agreed for it between the Government and the social partners in 1987.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): The breakdown of jobs created in the industry over the period from 1987 to 1990 is as follows:

Processing	Aquaculture	Fishing	Ancillary	Total Jobs Created
690	1,180	50	130	2,050

The numbers employed in the sector in (1) 1987 and (2) 1990 are as follows:

Year	Processing	Aquaculture	Fishing	Ancillary	Total
1987	2,930	1,370	7,780	1,370	13,450
1990	3,620	2,550	7,830	1,500	15,500

These figures indicate that substantial progress has been made to date towards achieving the targets of the Programme for National Recovery.

Mrs. Barnes

Would the Minister not agree that our fishing industry will not be able to expand to its full potential as long as restrictions are imposed on our fish quota and trawler tonnage? Would he not agree that there will be very few job opportunities in fishing in the future for young people if these restrictions continue? We cannot talk about the job creation potential of the Irish fishing industry if we do not take a strong stand to ensure the tonnage and quota restrictions are removed.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): I accept what the Deputy has said to a certain degree. The Common Fisheries Policy will be up for review very shortly. My Department and I are preparing for this review and we will be very much involved in it. I will take into consideration what the Deputy has said. I am satisfied that our fishing industry has made real progress, particularly the processing industry. Further progress can be made in this area. Since 1987 the Government's investment in the marine sector through funding for BIM and support for the aquaculture industry has enabled these targets to be reached. The figures speak for themselves. Of course, we would all like to see greater output in the fishing industry and both the Minister and I are looking at the ways and means by which we can build on targets we have achieved.

Mr. G. O'Sullivan

While I welcome the increase in employment in this sector, up to now the Department of the Marine seem to have been regarded as the Cinderella of Government Departments. Would the Minister not agree that the Government should place more emphasis on job creation in this very important sector? Does he have any plans to substantially increase investment in this industry in the future so as to increase employment?

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): I do not accept the Deputy's statement that the Department of the Marine are regarded as a Cinderella Department. I agree that we should build on the real progress that has been made since 1987. I will be encouraging all the elements within my Department and the fishing industry to build on the targets we have achieved. We can build further on these targets.

Mr. Gilmore

With regard to the figures he has given, may I ask the Minister to say how many of those jobs are full-time, part-time or seasonal? Secondly, is it not the case that the numbers employed in fishing will decline as a result of the restrictions imposed on our fleet and quotas? A man in my constituency was recently refused a loan by BIM to buy a vessel which would have enabled him employ an additional four people. This practice is commonplace and people cannot get into the fishing industry. People are signing on at labour exchanges who could usefully be employed in the fishing industry.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): To take the last part of the Deputy's question first, of course I accept that we can further promote the fishing industry. I am speaking in particular about the processing industry. We have to realise that we have to maintain our stocks. There is no point in exhausting all our stocks.

Mr. Gilmore

We will not be able to exhaust our stocks; the Spaniards will have done it for us.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): I will look at how we can further promote the processing industry. The Deputy asked for a breakdown of the figures as between full-time and part-time jobs. In the processing industry, the number of full-time jobs was 1,700 while the number of part-time was 1,230. In aquaculture the number of full-time jobs was 330 while the number of part-time jobs was 1,040. In fishing the number of full-time jobs was 3,260 while the number of part-time jobs was 4,520.

Mr. Gilmore

That puts a different complexion on the figures.

An Ceann Comhairle

I should like to bring in Deputy Barnes for a final question.

Mrs. Barnes

I welcome the Minister's statement on the necessity to conserve and expand our fishing stocks. May I ask the Minister what action is being taken by him and his Department on the factors affecting sea trout, for example, sea lice? Until such time as research has been carried out into the different factors affecting sea trout not alone will sea trout be in danger of being wiped out but there will also be difficulties in regard to commercial fish farms. I am sure the Minister will have a response to make on the expansion of both natural and fish farm stocks in the context of job creation.

An Ceann Comhairle

This question deals primarily with jobs. The Deputy is entering into the area of fish health.

Mrs. Barnes

Healthy fish make healthy jobs.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is worthy of a separate question.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): This issue is dealt with in a later question.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Paddy Sheehan for a final question.

Mr. Sheehan

I should like the Minister to say why he believes there will be an expansion in the fishing industry when Mr. Almeida Serra, European Commissioner for fisheries, who visited Ireland on a fact finding mission on 4-5 February this year, stated that he did not hold out much hope that Ireland would be able to get a revision of the quota system, especially if it was set out on a policy basis——

An Ceann Comhairle

We have had that matter in the House before.

Mr. Sheehan

Does that information not contradict the Minister of State's reply?

An Ceann Comhairle

It is a separate matter.

Mr. Sheehan

The Minister should reply.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry, Deputy, but we must have relevance to some extent.

Mr. Sheehan

I would like the Minister to clarify the matter for us.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should put down a specific question on the matter.