Ex-marine minister denies claim of cronyism

FIANNA FÁIL’S Frank Fahey has strenuously denied opposition claims his Lost at Sea scheme to help fishermen buy new trawlers was “tailor-made” to suit a handful of constituents in Galway West.

The former marine minister dismissed as “totally and completely untrue” allegations by the opposition that the 2001 scheme was “cronyism at its worst” and favoured “friends and supporters” of Fianna Fáil.

The Dáil heard allegations yesterday that two of Mr Fahey’s constituents originally suggested the scheme to help fishermen replace missing vessels, and they ultimately got €2.1m of the total €2.8m fund.

Fine Gael’s Dinny McGinley, who represents fishing communities in Donegal South West, said: “It was a two-track scheme, there was an inside track and an outside track. I believe that was a tailor-made scheme for certain people.”

During Dáil statements on a report on Lost at Sea by Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, Deputy McGinley said: “The crumbs were given out, but the major benefits of the scheme were to favoured people.”

Kerry North Sinn Féin TD, Martin Ferris, said: “This was political cronyism at its worst. Write to your friends, write to the people that support your party and forget the rest.”

But Mr Fahey insisted the scheme was aimed at helping individuals still involved in the fishing industry to buy new vessels.

Ms O’Reilly was criticised by Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney for holding a meeting with opposition deputies ahead of yesterday’s Dáil statements to brief them on the finding of her report.

“In the independent position the Ombudsman is in, she should have asked all spokespersons from all parties of this House,” said the Donegal North-East TD.

But the opposition said Fianna Fáil is just trying to “undermine the integrity, authority and independence” of the Ombudsman to protect themselves from adverse findings in her report It found the design was “contrary to fair and sound administration” and said it was not generally advertised and many fishing families were not aware of it.

It followed a complaint from the son of fisherman Francis Byrne who, along with a 16-year-old son and three crew, was lost off northwest Donegal in October 1981. The family were not aware of the scheme and missed the deadline. Ms O’Reilly recommended they should be awarded €250,000.

The Government is refusing the accept the findings of the report – something that has happened just once before – and Ms O’Reilly said it is up to the Oireachtas to make a judgement on it. But the Government has decided not to refer the report to an Oireachtas committee for examination.

Fine Gael’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Michael Creed, said the Government is “undermining” the Ombudsman’s office because it shines a light where Fianna Fáil would prefer darkness prevails, where they can carry on behind closed doors in stroke politics.”

Labour’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Seán Sherlock said the refusal to accept the findings “completely undermines the role of the Ombudsman and undermines “any confidence that any citizen might have in making a complaint.”

Mr Fahey said the Byrne family were no longer involved in fishing and insisted the scheme was only designed to help those still involved in the industry.

“This is why the fishing organisations were consulted and informed of the scheme,” he said.