Maritime Cork: Ireland without EU fisheries committee representation

How did this happen?

At a particularly difficult time for the national fishing industry, with very low quotas causing serious problems for coastal communities economically dependent on it, the 14 newly elected Irish MEPs have failed to get representation for Ireland on the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH).

This is a particularly important committee on which to have representation, because it will be dealing with the review and planned reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. The CFP is regarded in the fishing industry as the core of Ireland’s problems, forcing low catch quotas for Irish boats in what are regarded as the best fishing waters in Europe. Irish boats are often tied up in port without enough quota under the CFP to catch fish while trawlers from other EU countries are allowed to fish.

While Ireland has no representation, Hungary, a land-locked country, has one MEP on the 27-member committee, the full composition of which — dominated by major fishing countries Spain, France, and Holland — is: Spain, five; France, four; Netherlands, four; Sweden, three; Italy, two; Portugal, two, and one each for Hungary, Germany, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Denmark, and Poland.

The leading fishing industry representative organisations are highly critical of the politicians.

The chief executive of the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation has described it as a “disgrace” that Ireland, with the largest waters of any state in the EU in the north-east Atlantic, has no representation.

“It means Ireland has no voice of influence ahead of next year’s review of the Brexit Trade and Co-operation Agreement and the planned evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy,” said Aodh O’Donnell. “Both of these issues are of strategic importance to Irish fishing communities.”

To get an explanation for how this situation evolved, I emailed all 14 Irish MEPs, asking what had happened to leave the country without representation on the PECH at a crucial time for Irish fishing.

Five have replied — Billy Kelleher, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Maria Walsh, Kathleen Funchion, and Lynn Boylan.

Cork’s Fianna Fáil MEP Mr Kelleher said: “It’s very unfortunate that there is no Irish MEP a full member of the PECH committee. From my party’s perspective we sought membership of various committees to try and ensure we had a broad range of policy areas covered. With regard to the review of CFP, I very much welcome this and will continue to speak up for the Irish fishing industry in plenary debates.”

Ms Funchion, Sinn Féin, said: “I requested to be on this committee. I was not successful. If an opening becomes available I will re-apply again.”

Ms Walsh, Fine Gael, said: “I was appointed to the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, as well as the Regional Development Committee, through which I will be a dedicated and impactful voice for the Irish fishing industry.”

Ms Boylan, Sinn Féin, said: “I am acutely aware of the issues impacting the Irish fishing industry and I will monitor files from PECH that come to the European Parliament. I am always happy to engage with stakeholders in the fishing industry.”

Mr ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent, has been appointed a ‘substitute’ to the committee and he said: “Astonishing that out of 54 full and substitute places that FF or FG couldn’t get a seat. The reality is that they didn’t want one.”

When I posted what had happened on my Twitter/X social media feed there was a very strong response, critical of the MEPs’ failure to get Irish representation on PECH, one of which I felt summed up the situation rather well: “An island nation!! Unbelievable from our Irish MEPs.”

PORT SAFETY OFFICER

The Port of Cork Company has a new safety officer, Síle Scanlon, from Ballycotton, who is an RNLI lifeboat volunteer and has “grown from rescues at sea to safety on shore”, the Port tells me.

“Síle has been heavily influenced by her family, in particular her mother, Máire, who retired two years ago as deputy mechanic on Ballycotton lifeboat. Her father, John, is part of the shore crew. Síle has strong ambitions to one day become coxswain of a boat and hopes to encourage other females to consider a maritime career with the Port of Cork.”

HARBOUR SMELLS

Members of Carrigaline Municipal District Council are running out of patience with Uisce Éireann over foul sewage smells in at least two areas of the harbour — Shanbally and the Carrigaline-Crosshaven riverside walkway. So they made clear at the council meeting, where officials said that a response to requests for action made to Uisce Éireann, based on previous complaints by councillors, is awaited.

A wastewater treatment plant in Shanbally and at O’Leary’s Cross adjacent to the walkway are the areas mentioned at the meeting.

Members were told by officials that the situation has been “going on for two years”, is unacceptable to local householders, and, if there is not a response from Uisce Éireann, councillors could complain to the Environmental Protection Agency.

• My monthly podcast this Friday will focus on the commemoration ceremony for the tragic loss of the Cork City Steam Packet Company’s vessel SS Lismore, in which 18 of the 19 crew drowned. It will be on all major podcast platforms and website: https://tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie
• Email: tommacsweeneymarine@gmail.com