Report proposes fisheries policy reform and reversal of cutbacks

A COMPLETE reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and the reversal of Government budget cutbacks in the agricultural sector are among proposals in a report on the future of farming and fishing in the west of Ireland.

The report, compiled by Sinn Féin spokesperson Martin Ferris, TD, has been endorsed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and will now be sent to the cabinet with a call that it be fully debated in the Dáil.

The Kerry North TD travelled the length of the west coast, carried out an extensive survey of farmers and fishermen and received hundreds of submissions from interested parties in researching the report.

He said he was delighted the Oireachtas committee had endorsed the document, which has some shocking findings.

“For instance, the inequality present in the allocation of the single farm payments shows that 60% of farmers in the west believe their situation has gotten worse since introduction of the single payment.

“The report also shows that jobs and the economy are major issues facing rural Ireland.

“This must be addressed by the Government with the introduction of a job retention and creation package,” he said.

Mr Ferris said the submissions made to him during the compiling of this report are extremely valuable coming from the front line as they are.

“What they show is that the fishing quota system is systematically unfair and that there is an overwhelming demand for fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

“The report also shows that the farming community believes there are many ways out of this current crisis. This will require a greater emphasis on LEADER projects for rural job creation for example,” he said.

Mr Ferris said the overwhelming response from the farming and fishing communities up and down the west coast is that the Government must reverse its budget cuts.