“IS&WFO welcome meeting with Minister Noel Dempsey”

Following today's long awaited meeting between representatives of the Fishing Industry and Noel Dempsey, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Jason Whooley, Manager of the Irish South and West Fishermens Organisation, had this to say:

“We welcome the fact that we finally got an opportunity to air our views in person to Minister Dempsey. We didn’t pull any punches in what we had to say and neither did he. The most positive outcome from our point of view is that Minister Dempsey has agreed that a Strategic Plan is required for the Fishing Industry to enable it to move forward. The Minister has committed his support to the process of drawing up this Plan and a Report will be submitted by September. Terms of reference for the Report will be finalised in the next seven to ten days. This Report will be preceded by a series of regional and national meetings where the Minister will hear about the serious issues facing the Industry and its dependent coastal communities. The outcome of this process must be an improvement in the economic situation within the Industry and a position from where fishermen are able to plan their futures.”

One of the most crucial issues facing all fishermen at present, is the rising cost of fuel and this was very much on the agenda at todays meeting also. Mr. Whooley continued “We emphasised very strongly to the Minister that the spiralling cost of fuel, which is the main cost for fishing vessels, is causing an economic crisis for the Industry. We also pointed out that relief programmes are in place in other EU Countries and the European Commission has recently come up with a package of assistance measures. He took on board our views and made a commitment to getting back to us within ten days with views on how to alleviate the problem.”

8th May 2006