Party vows €25m marine boost

AN extra €25 million would be plunged into the marine sector if Fine Gael was elected into Government, the party claimed yesterday.

The opposition promised a programme of investment that would unleash the huge potential that remained untapped in the country’s marine sector, it said.

Unveiling its plans, the party launched a comprehensive policy document for the marine sector from both angling tourism to seafood processing.

Ocean of Opportunity, Fine Gael’s blueprint for a viable and sustainable marine sector, outlined proposals for increased employment, output, tourism numbers, research activity and a move towards a flourishing industry.

“Fine Gael’s contract is not just with fishermen, not just with anglers, and not just with all those who can and will benefit directly from its proposals,” said party spokesman on the marine, John Perry.

“Despite the grotesque mismanagement of our marine sector — and that means everything from angling tourism to fish processing, from pollution control to marine energy research — I am still hugely optimistic that the time remains to rescue this great natural bounty.”

Mr Perry said if given power, Fine Gael would commit €25m to the sector in its first year in office.

Party leader Enda Kenny said the policy was Fine Gael’s contract of ambition with coastal communities.

“Fine Gael is the only party producing marine policy in this country, because it is the only party listening to the marine industry,” he said. “Although we know of the difficulties, we also know of the huge potential that lies beneath.”

The blueprint was welcomed by the Federation of Irish Fishermen, which said it recognised the need for restructuring the sector.