Inquiry may increase pressure on Fahey to quit

FRANK FAHEY will come under growing pressure later this month to resign from his junior ministry if an inquiry into a controversial compensation scheme for fishermen is critical of his role.

The report by Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly into alleged deficiencies in the Lost at Sea scheme is due to be published within the next two weeks.

The scheme was introduced by Mr Fahey in 2001, when he was the Minister for the Marine. It was designed to compensate fishing families for trawlers lost at sea. However, according to reports, two of the six families who benefited from the scheme were from Mr Fahey’s Galway West constituency. It has emerged that his two constituents were paid €2 million of the €2.8 million paid out under the scheme. In total, there were 69 unsuccessful applications.