Danny Healy-Rae: Slams penalty points system for fishermen
Danny Healy-Rae spoke about the penalty points regime affecting fishermen from West Cork, Kerry, Dingle, Cassavine and up to Donegal. He argued the system is unfair, saying it can remove income, leave penalty points in place even after court victories, and disadvantage Irish fishermen while UK vessels avoid points.
Allegations of unfair enforcement
He said he and Deputies Collins and Ferris met with the minister during the statutory instrument process but were not listened to. He also criticized the Taoiseach for reintroducing the statutory instrument, arguing it continues an unfair enforcement approach against local fishermen.
Penalty points and the courts
He warned that the penalty point system can remove an individual's income without proper recourse, noting that even if a fisherman wins a court case the points may remain on the licence. He quoted the Kilibeg's fishermen organisation to underline the danger of points remaining despite legal acquittal and called the arrangement unjust.
Weighing and repacking concerns
He raised specific practical problems with new weighing rules introduced with immediate effect, saying they create uncertainty about where fish may be weighed before and after transport. He argued that weighing at piers rather than in factories forces repacking, removes ice packaging and then requires it to be replaced, a process he said will not improve fish quality.
Impact on coastal and rural communities
He urged the minister, noting the minister's Donegal background, to stand up for fair play and to avoid penalising Irish fishermen who support rural communities. He said the existing measures hit fishermen's livelihoods and asked the minister to fight for fairer treatment rather than applying punitive penalties.
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Thank you very much, Concurle. I am glad to get the opportunity to talk about this very important matter that is affecting fishermen from West Cork, Kerry, Dingle and Cassavine, all the ways up the west of Ireland to Donegal. We, myself and Deputy Collins and Deputy Ferris met with Minister Creed, when he was doing the statutory instrument before, and he didn't listen to us. Jadley Patakop Gallagher, your fellow deputy, former fellow deputy from Donegal, and know the statutory instrument. And what does the Taoiseach do when he gets into power? Michail Martin introduces the statutory instrument again. So, these penalty points, the way they are being meted out, is not fair, because if you contest it in the court, and even if you won the case, you won't get the points off your licence again. This legislation makes no sense, as UK vessels are not going to get points in Irish waters. There is no fairness in the court system. Kilibeg's fisherman organisation argues that the penalty point system could remove an individual's income without having recourse to the courts. This is a practical situation, where the courts says you are innocent, but the points still remain. Even if, Minister, that you are from Donegal, I'm asking you, are you going to stand, even that you are, and you are a Minister from Donegal, are you going to stand over this, what's happening here? And hunting, and hunting fishermen from Kilibeg's, all along the west, down to Dingle, and Cat Sabine, and all the west coast of Carp? After all, you are a minister from a county very much like ours. The weighing of the fishery projects is not covered by this bill, even though the government knows that this is a serious issue since new rules were introduced in the 13th of the 421, with immediate effect. In short, the difficulties arise around where the weighing can take place before and after transport, i.e., at piers rather than in factories, removing ice packaging and have to put it all back in place again. This is totally unfair. Individual weighing and repacking as part of the weighing control system and the problem that this process will not result for better fish quality. Applying penalty points to Irish fishermen, where fishermen fishing in Irish waters are not to be tacked at all in Irish territorial waters, I mean, Minister, what are you on the government at? Can he not stand up for fair play? And I say to you, rather than penalising fishermen, our own fishermen, why don't he fight for more quarter for them and give them a chance to live? He is affecting the rural communities as well as the fishermen. Thank you very much. Thank you.
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