Ferris slams failure to provide relief for Fishermen

Martin Ferris

THE FAILURE of EU Ministers to provide immediate and meaningful aid to fishermen in the face of the current crisis exacerbated by rising fuel costs is strongly criticized by Sinn Féin.
It was agreed on Tuesday by the EU Council of Ministers to proceed with the package of aid tied to restructuring but which will not come on stream until 2009.
Responding, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Fisheries Martin Ferris TD said: “Firstly, the fact that the funding will not become available until next year means that it will be too late for the many fishermen in this country who are finding it difficult to survive in the current climate”.
“Secondly, the fact that the aid is tied to so-called restructuring means that the EU is in effect using the crisis to put further pressure on fishermen to cease operations.
“For Irish fishermen it does nothing whatsoever to address the real issues of inadequate quota and other restrictions which mean that long term viability is becoming impossible for many in the sector.”