The Fine Gael Spokesperson on Fisheries, Tom Sheahan TD today (Friday) called on the Minister of State for Fisheries to clarify whether he plans to publish a strategy on supporting employment in the marine sector after the Minister for Agriculture suggested that no such report exists.

Earlier this month, Minister of State for Fisheries, Tony Killeen TD suggested an interdepartmental group on the coastal sector was soon to publish a report on supporting marine employment but in response to a parliamentary question tabled by Deputy Sheahan (PQ below) Minister Smith said no report is pending.

“It would appear that Minister Killeen and Minister Smith are at odds about whether a Government initiative on the coastal sector has taken place at all.

“The marine sector has huge potential but development has been stalled every step of the way by Government inaction and failure to approve the Operational Programme for Fisheries which would financially support marine businesses in creating jobs.

“Minister Smith and Minister Killeen should start working together and ensure this funding is delivered without further delay instead of contradicting each other about Government initiatives and reports which may or may not exist.”

Ends
Parliamentary Question No.54

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish the interdepartmental group report on the coastal sector; the resources that will be allocated to the implementation of any recommendations arising from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Tom Sheahan.
Thursday, 11th March, 2010.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has no proposals to publish an inter-departmental group report on the coastal sector.

The Department has recently published and submitted to the European Commission the National Response to the EU Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. That report can be obtained at www.fishingnet.ie or www.agriculture.gov.ie

The Report is a policy response document for the purpose of contributing to the debate on the Reform of the CFP and hence the issue of resources to implement the Report does not arise.