I raised this matter by way of parliamentary question approximately four weeks ago and in his reply the Minister endeavoured to be helpful. I am concerned that it will be three weeks before we can table questions to the Minister for the Marine again, but this matter is so important it cannot wait that long. It must be addressed immediately.
There are approximately 3,500 full-time fishermen and between 4,000 and 5,000 part-time fishermen here. Full-time fishermen — or trawler men — are in great difficulties because they have had practically no income for the past four months, yet, they must make ends meet, not an easy task without an income. Even if their boats are not at sea they must pay insurance costs, maintain their boats and meet many other overheads. Has the Minister submitted a plan to Brussels? How much aid will those fishermen receive and when can they expect to receive it? I understand Bord Iascaigh Mhara has been given the job of assessing the losses fishermen have incurred in the past four months. Has that assessment been concluded and a plan submitted to Brussels?
Some of the aid will probably come from the national Exchequer and there is nothing wrong with that. A combination of EU and Exchequer funding would be an ideal solution. The French have given large amounts of money to their fishermen over the years. A few weeks ago the French Government allocated a sum of 300 million francs to its fishermen and that is only one in a series of aid programmes implemented by them.
Last Monday I spoke to a fisherman from Dunmore East who had not earned one penny for the past four months. He and his brother own a 35-foot boat and engage in gill netting. They have not been able to go out to sea. Some 90-foot boats have gone to sea, but only on a few occasions in the past few months. Those fishermen are in despair and need immediate financial assistance. I understand the Irish Fishermen's Organisation indicated that a sum of approximately £13 million was necessary to compensate fishermen who have suffered great losses. I do not know if that figure is realistic but millions of pounds are needed. The position is desperate.
In reply to my parliamentary question the Minister stated that he was having discussions with the Minister for Social Welfare to ascertain if legislation passed by the House some time ago could be enacted urgently, which might be of some assistance. Has any progress been made in that regard? The fishermen who have gone out to sea in the past week or two following an improvement in the weather have told me that they are receiving catastrophic prices for their fish. The bottom has fallen out of the market.
In a time of shortage one would think that the price should be high, but apparently the void which existed during the past four or five months has been filled by imports from third countries and EFTA countries. A great deal of fish is being imported from and through Norway. The markets which the fishermen had before the bad weather have been taken over by imports from the Third World countries. It is a matter of grave concern that we should be importing fish into the European Union. Perhaps that is why the French demonstrated so vociferously. Such imports from Third World countries are destroying markets in the European Union.
The livelihoods of 350,000 men and their families are at stake. Will the Minister give them an indication immediately of the financial support they will receive from the Government and the Commission?
