Government accused of costing 30 jobs per month in shellfish sector

THIRTY jobs a month are being lost due to Government inaction to develop the salmon and shellfish sector, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was told by a delegation from the Irish Farmers Association’s Aquaculture Section.

The delegation from Donegal, Galway, west Cork and Waterford pointed out to TDs and senators that no extra funding was required to provide much needed employment and economic activity in peripheral communities.

What was needed was simply action by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith to implement government policy on aquaculture licensing and capital funding.