Fisherman who breach quotas are traitors: McDowell

TÁNAISTE Michael McDowell has branded fishermen who breach their quotas as “traitors”.

He made the emotive remark in the Dáil yesterday when challenged by the Opposition about a provision in the Criminal Justice Bill giving fisheries protection officers the right to search premises.

Sinn Féin TD Aengus O’Snodaigh said the Government had brought forward the bill to deal with gangland crime and drug dealers, yet had included the provision in relation to fishermen.