Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle has vowed to keep pressure on the EU Fisheries Minister over plans to privatise Ireland’s fishing quotas.
There are currently plans to allow countries to buy fishing quotas from individual fishermen for the next 15 years.
However Deputy Pringle says the move to introduce ‘tradable quotas’ would be a disaster for the industry here in Donegal and across Ireland.
“We are totally opposed to this. If it is railroaded through then the Irish fishing industry will collapse.
“It will allow Spanish and other EU fishermen to come in and simply buy up our quotas from individual fishermen for the next fifteen years.
“That will mean lost jobs and a general erosion of our fleet,” he said.
Deputy Pringle, as part of his role as a member of the Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, travelled to Brussels this week to meet with EU Fisheries Minister Maria Damanaki.
The Killybegs-based TD said he was satisfied with what he heard from Commissioner Damanaki but stressed that Ireland must fight to keep its quotas for itself.
England has already sold most of its quotas to Spain but Deputy Pringle said we should not go down that road.
“It would appear that there is a softening stance and we must ensure that we continue to put pressure on the Minister.
“The bottom line is that this is about protecting the very lifeblood of our fishing industry.
“If we do not have quotas, then we do not have a fishing industry here in Donegal and across Ireland,” he said.
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