I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to raise this important matter concerning the skipper and crew of the Irish fishing trawler the MFV Girl Jane who were the victims of an incident which occurred 17 miles south of Baltimore, County Cork, on 21 September 1998 created by a French trawler, Melodie, the owner of which is believed to be S. A. Nicot Arment.
Both the Irish and French boats were fishing in that area. The Irish trawler crew did everything possible to avoid getting involved but they failed to get the French boat to veer off. Consequently, the French boat got entangled in the Irish vessel's net. The French boat made no attempt to free the Irish boat's net but proceeded to burn it in five or six places with a gas torch. The Irish boat's wire combination was entangled in the French trawler's trawl door. The French crew then proceeded to cut the combination wire as well. As a result the Irish trawler lost its net, valued at £3,000, the combination wire worth £700, and two days' fishing.
The Irish trawler suffered loss and damage as a result of this incident. The Minister gave a commitment in the press the morning after this incident that he would investigate it and make sure that the French trawler concerned and the French authorities compensated the Irish trawler owner. Having hauled its trawl door, the Irish trawler steamed back to Baltimore to find a replacement net. In 25 years fishing experience, this was the worst incident they had ever come across. They honestly believed at the time that the crew had to be Spanish and could not be convinced they were French but, alas, they were French. The skipper of that French registered trawler must be a very dangerous man. I further believe this was no accident and that the skipper intended to destroy the Irishman's fishing net. This man should be immediately removed from the position of skipper because of his conduct in the interest of good relations on the high seas and the safety of crew members and vessels.
The Naval Service was contacted at 4 p.m. on 21 December about this incident and contact was also made with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. Investigations seem to be continuing in respect of the incident but there are no moves afoot to compensate the Irish fishing trawler which suffered a loss of £3,700 as well as the loss of fishing opportunities and loss of approximately £1,000 in profits, a total of £4,700. What efforts has the Minister made to ensure the trawler owner is compensated for this blatant act of piracy on the high seas? How much longer can we tolerate this action?
