NI Conservatives’ agriculture and fisheries spokesman, Paul Leeman, has urged Michelle O’Neill to “take a leaf out of Dublin’s book” and help hard pressed fishing communities in Northern Ireland.
“The recent bad weather has been devastating for the fishing industry and for coastal communities, with the fleet unable to get out to sea and fishing gear lost and damaged”, Paul, who is a commercial fisherman, explained. “The government in the Republic of Ireland has responded by finding emergency funding of €10.5 million, to repair piers and harbours, which are vital for commercial fishing vessels, and to replace lobster pots which have been swept out to sea or damaged.”
“In Northern Ireland the fishing industry is crying out for the agriculture and fisheries minister to take similar action. So far, Michelle O’Neill has steadfastly ignored requests from fishermen to provide some help. At least last year some relief was provided, in the shape of repaid harbour dues.”
“I would call upon her to do this again immediately this year, but to go further and adopt something like the Republic’s minister’s measures too. If she continues to take the current approach then there will be boats going out of business and fishermen joining the dole queue, not to mention people further down the production line losing their jobs.”
“The industry is not asking for huge amounts of money to get it over this exceptionally difficult time. Commercial fishing is absolutely vital to Northern Ireland’s coastal communities and to the agri-food industry here. It is one of the things we do well. In this instance the Republic of Ireland’s government has demonstrated that it is possible to take action, despite EU State Aid regulations and the like. It’s time for the minister here to start acting to protect Northern Ireland’s fishing industry, before it is damaged beyond repair.”