I very much welcome the opportunity in this House to condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent cowardly attacks by French fishermen on Irish trucks and to draw attention to the stress and strain caused to the drivers of these trucks containing fish being brought to the French market.
The Minister is no doubt aware of the serious crisis in the fishing industry throughout Europe and the failure of the Community to resolve the difficulties, particularly in relation to third country imports which are not being controlled by existing Community regulations. Furthermore, much more stringent health and hygiene procedures should apply to imported products as standards in these countries often fall far short of what the Community requires of its own industry.
I appreciate that now is not the time to outline the importance of the fishing industry to this country and the real potential which exists for expansion in this industry in relation to increased exports, increased home consumption and the opportunity to promote new jobs which are so badly needed at this time. I hope, however, the Minister will afford us the opportunity at an early stage to have a much wider debate on this very important matter.
Even allowing for the frustration which exists among those engaged in the fishing industry throughout the European Community as a result of the current state of the industry, nobody can for one moment condone the behaviour of the French fishermen towards fellow citizens of the Community in the course of these attacks. The French authorities must be reminded that the Single European Act is now in operation and that they have a responsibility to ensure the protection of European citizens going about their daily business from the excess of their fishermen and also of European Community products going to the French market or in transit through French territory.
These incidents are in breach of fundamental Community principles with regard to free trade and under no circumstances should they be tolerated. EC member states must insist that EC law is adequate to protect European Community workers and their produce from being attacked or destroyed in any of the member states. Strong penalties must be imposed on both the member state and those who carry out these attacks to prevent a recurrence.
The most recent attack, which took place on 15 March, was carried out by a mob of about 150 to 200 people on two Irish lorry drivers who were forced to lie on the floors of their cabins while locks on the loads they were carrying were broken and the tyres of the tractor units were punctured. Diesel oil was then sprayed over the fish. The question I would like to put to the Minister is: where were the French police in the port of Boulogne while this was taking place?
It is my understanding that approximately £140,000 worth of damage has already been caused to Irish owned produce. I ask the Minister to insist that the French authorities be made pay for the losses incurred to date and that adequate compensation be paid to both the owners of the trucks and the drivers for the pain and suffering endured by them.
I would also like to know the present EC laws relating to these attacks and if there are penalties which can be imposed on member states found to be in breach of these laws. If there are no such laws in place will the Minister assure the House that he will raise this matter at EC level and initiate a debate on the need for such laws? It is clear from media reports that violent attacks have been carried out by French fishermen demonstrating against foreign imports for a number of weeks resulting in millions of pounds worth of damage to property and produce. French fishermen must be reminded that exports from Ireland to other EC countries are not foreign imports under EC law.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Sheehan.
