Vol. 524 No. 2
93 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by trawler skippers in attracting manpower to go out on fishing trips which can take five to eight days; his views on whether fishermen have a most difficult job in a most hostile environment; and the plans he has to help the fishing industry. [22081/00]
The fishing industry, like other industries, is experiencing growing difficulties in labour supply. A number of factors are having a serious impact on the sector's ability to attract new entrants and to retain existing crews. The buoyant economic climate generally and the highly competitive labour market is imposing pressures. The labour shortage is also being exacerbated by the adverse impact of increased fuel costs. The hazardous nature of the job and the unsocial hours in the industry are also key factors. Working conditions, remuneration and career structures, safety and training are issues to be addressed in that context.
In response to the emerging labour supply and demand challenges facing the seafood industry, the training and employment task force was established late last year and is finalising its analysis and recommendations. I expect to receive the report of the task force before the end of the year. The task force has a comprehensive remit to address all the factors impacting on employment in the seafood sector as a whole.
The work of the task force, which includes industry representatives, is critical and timely given the degree to which manpower difficulties in the sector have increased over the past 12 months, notably due to the escalation in fuel prices. I look forward to receiving its final report and to working with the industry to deliver a comprehensive strategic response to the employment challenge. In the meantime, options to alleviate the immediate crisis as a result of high fuel prices are being urgently assessed, including measures which would assist the industry to retain and attract crews.
I thank the Minister for the briefing I received from the Civil Service since I was appointed spokesperson for the marine and natural resources. It was extremely good and it could not have happened unless the Minister wanted it to happen and I thank him for that.
There are two or three points I have noticed from meetings with fishermen throughout the country. One is that fishermen—
The Deputy should confine himself to questions.
I will. Is the Minister aware of the extreme difficulty skippers have in recruiting manpower for their boats? Is he aware that there are occasions when full manpower cannot be recruited? Does he accept that there should be some change in the system of personal taxation given the hostile environment in which fishermen work? They are out of port for five to ten days at a time and there is probably no other living to be made in the country which is as difficult. Can the Minister see a role for a change in personal taxation? What is the Minister's view outside those of the consultants or the study group?
I congratulate Deputy Connaughton on his appointment as Fine Gael spokesman on the marine and natural resources and I wish him the best of luck. I am delighted to assist by whatever means through my Department in giving a briefing because it is only right that that should happen. The former Fine Gael spokesman was present on the previous occasion I answered questions and I thank him for his courtesy to me and the good job of work he did in his brief. I wish him well in his new brief.
I accept that there is a problem with the crewing of the fishing fleet at present. That is due in no small way to the unsocial nature of the work and the long days at sea in difficult conditions. It is only when I came into this job that I realised that fishermen are out at sea for up to ten days, sometimes in very poor conditions. We are now renewing the fleet and working and living conditions are improving considerably. There is a specific difficulty and I have discussed this with the fishing industry around the coast. We are very much aware of that difficulty and I am considering various measures by which we can try to assist.
The industry has put forward a number of proposals, including the one the Deputy mentioned. These are being considered in several different Departments at present. They are budgetary mat ters which, in the final analysis, are for the Minister for Finance. The specific question the Deputy put to me is one which will be considered in the budgetary context. It would be remiss of me at this stage to state my views other than to say that I will certainly fight a battle with colleagues to try to obtain the best deal for the fishing industry.
Is the Minister looking for this taxation measure? Fishermen will expect no less of the Minister than for him to say what he thinks.
A number of proposals have been put to me, including the proposal the Deputy outlined. I am in favour of obtaining the best deal I can for fishermen. I do not want to be specific because that would give out the wrong signals. There are difficulties, and the Deputy will be well aware of this, with one sector trying to obtain a tax break over other sectors. We are in discussions with the Department of Finance at present. We have agreed with the industry that its representatives will meet representatives of four different Departments – the Departments of Finance, the Taoiseach, the Marine and Natural Resources and Social, Community and Family Affairs – to examine the question of employment in the sector and the difficulties with the number of crewmen who are walking off ships.
Question No. 94 falls as Deputy Bell is not present.
I am deputising for Deputy Bell.
Unfortunately, under Standing Orders governing Priority Questions, the office should have been notified that the name on the question should have been changed. We will now take Question No. 95.
Question No. 94 for written reply.
