The Wexford delegation travelled to Leinster House to discuss the plight of the Irish fishing fleet, with the Sinn Féin spokesperson, and to highlight their urgent concern over the continuing neglect of the Irish fishing industry.

Speaking following the meeting Deputy Ferris said:

"The problems outlined by county Wexford fishermen mirror many of those faced by rural fishing communities throughout the entire coast.

"One of our greatest natural resources, the fish in the waters round our coast, has been practically surrendered to the EU since 1973, and this is a serious indictment of the policy of successive Irish governments, and of their negotiating skills.

"Much is made of funding received from the EU, but we very seldom hear anything of the 120 Billion Euro worth of fish that has been taken from our waters. That sum hugely outweighs what we have received in structural funds. Not only that, but if only a proportion of that catch had gone, where it should, into the domestic processing market, then we would have today a thriving fishing industry, instead of one that is being driven to the wall.

"It is ridiculous that we should have just 4% of the EU quota, while in nominal control of 16% of EU waters. That must change.

"A serious consequence of the present system of quota allocation and management is what the fishermen perceive to be the increasing criminalisation of Irish fishermen. Irish fishing vessels have been singled out for detention by the Irish authorities. Figures obtained from the Department of the Marine verify this fact.

"It is ironic indeed that the Irish government's diligence in prosecuting its own fishermen is not shared by some of the major offenders and that Irish fishermen are subject to much stiffer fines than others for fishing in their own waters.

"This state not only imposes the largest fines in the EU but it is much more likely that Irish fishermen will be brought before higher courts and therefore subject to bigger penalties than other EU fishermen who are generally brought before the District Court.

"The need to conserve stocks is appreciated by all, but Sinn Féin entirely supports the view as expressed by county Wexford fishermen, that they are being pursued more severely, than other nationalities for alleged breaches of regulations, while denied a fair share of the catch in their own waters.

"The problems outlined by the Wexford fishermen are very immediate and I will continue to raise these over the coming months and insist that any review of the Common Fisheries Policy must protect the livelihoods of Irish coastal communities."