Ombudsman’s role compromised

WITH all the focus on the economy, it’s understandable that an event that could have profound consequences for the democratic process escaped scrutiny.

For only the second instance in the history of the state, an Oireachtas committee, comprising an all-party agricultural panel, overturned the judgment of the Ombudsman. In 2001, the then fisheries minister Frank Fahy initiated a scheme enabling families who lost vessels and family members at sea to resume fishing activities.

It subsequently transpired that six applicants were successful under what was termed the Lost at Sea Scheme. The total amount allocated came to €2.8 million, most of which went to two constituents of the minister in west Galway. The application of a fishing family in Donegal, the Byrnes, who lost two members at sea, was rejected and they took their case to the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly. After thorough investigation, she found the scheme to be “unfair, inappropriate and unbalanced” and that the Byrne family was entitled to recompense.

In handing down its judgment, the committee has compromised the independent statutory role of the Ombudsman. A cross-party Oireachtas committee recently mandated that fishermen found committing minor breaches of the law should be charged with a criminal offence. Ireland is the only country in the EU that imposes criminal sanctions for minor breaches of fishing regulations.

The result is that, if convicted, an Irish fisherman would carry a criminal record on a par with that of a drug-peddler. From a local viewpoint, a number of politicians from Cork and Kerry serve on these committees.

This calls into question their commitment to the welfare of fishermen and the fishing industry.

Mick Callanan

Crookstown

Co Cork