I am disappointed the Chairman received that request from the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher. This Bill, a huge measure containing 70 sections, was brought before the committee in October and even then all the fishing representative bodies said there had been no consultation with them on it. Given that it will have a far-reaching impact on the fishing industry for years to come, why must it be passed before Christmas? It is impossible to discuss a Bill of this nature in such a short period. Numerous Fine Gael members wish to speak tomorrow and there will be no difficulty getting people to speak on it for a further two weeks.
The Bill criminalises fishermen and the administrative fines that are now being contemplated with regard to the criminal sanctions to be imposed on fishermen, regardless of the current situation in the industry, cannot be retrospective. I am astonished at the degree of urgency on display, particularly in the context that the Minister expects the Bill to be guillotined tomorrow, to be guillotined in the committee next week, to be returned to the Dáil to be guillotined on 13 or 14 December and then to be passed by Seanad Éireann. It is extraordinary.
This is the same Minister who introduced the Electoral Amendment Bill 2001. The latter passed speedily through the Dáil, without any consultation, and was brought in likewise. I have a degree of sympathy with the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, because the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, sent in other Ministers to deal with that Bill, which was subsequently thrown out of Seanad Éireann. I am astonished. The Bill before us has not come from Europe. There is no imperative that it be passed in the short term. Why is there this degree of urgency? Fine Gael wants consultation and debate on these amendments. We are prepared to return in the first week of January and take as much time as necessary to consider the legislation instead of rushing it through. The budget is approaching, the Minister has a heavy work schedule with which to contend before Christmas and this Bill will be lost.
Fine Gael will oppose the Bill here and in the House tomorrow and will take decisive action. We had a parliamentary party meeting and Fine Gael Deputies will not support the Bill and will find it hard to co-operate in respect of it. There is no point in getting into meaningful discussion if the Minister intends to guillotine the Bill in as short a period as possible. How can we propose amendments in that event? We are supposed to put forward amendments by Monday next in order that the Bill can be dealt with on Tuesday. However, we have not yet seen the proposed Government amendments. The situation is impossible.
We need to send a clear message to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, that he would be well advised to listen to the consensus — among not only the Opposition but also Government backbenchers — to the effect that the Bill is unwarranted and requires discussion. Despite the need for the Bill, it could be improved with consultation and meaningful discussion with Opposition Deputies. I strongly advise the Minister not to push the Bill through as he has been advised to do. I am disappointed that he is not here to deal with the debate on the Bill. If he is so forthright about it, why he is not present? It is unfair to send the Minister of State here if the direction has come from Cabinet.
I raised this matter on today's Order of Business with the Taoiseach and he said it was an issue that could be discussed with the Whips. However, it has gone beyond that. The Whips will have a serious discussion on it this evening and I guarantee that if they want a major row in the House, they will have one because Fine Gael will not co-operate on this Bill.