Marine industry needs one voice in the Cabinet

I WOULD like to express my grave concern at the Taoiseach’s failure to designate a full cabinet post for the marine industry.

This was the ideal occasion for the new Taoiseach to demonstrate his commitment to the marine sector and to coastal communities.

From the point of view of those closely involved in the industry, there is absolutely no clarity as to who is actually in charge. Brian Cowen has simply let the mystery continue.

The ocean economy contributes some €3 billion a year to Ireland’s GNP when one takes account of income from fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipping, tourism, IT, financial and other services.

At the moment, responsibility for all of this falls to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on the one hand, and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, on the other, with the departments of Environment, Transport, Rural Affairs and Tourism also involved to some extent or other.

We need a joined-up, cohesive and integrated maritime policy.

The Taoiseach should have taken the first step toward this by appointing to the cabinet a full minister with responsibility for all facets of the marine industry.

It is ludicrous to think we can develop a vibrant maritime sector with such a disjointed and fragmented system of administration.

Senator Michael McCarthy

Labour Party Spokesperson on the Marine

Seanad Éireann

Leinster House

Kildare Street

Dublin 2