Fishing industry organisations around the country have expressed a mixture of shock and surprise at the Government’s decision to absorb the Marine portfolio into the new Department of Communications and Natural Resources.
|
Speaking in Kells earlier today, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern defended the decision to amalgamate the Marine and Communications portfolios, saying the Government intends appointing a Minister of State to head the former Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.
Mr Sean O'Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, accused the government of abandoning its previous "mission to make the marine matter".
He said his organisation was reeling from the shock of being "handed a souped-up Minister" which he said had "demoted fisheries to the second division."
Mr Jason Whooley, manager of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation, said the decision was "a complete disaster" adding that fishermen were in "a state of shock."
"All the good work and years of battling to break away from the Department of Agriculture has been undone by the stroke of a pen," he argued.
He said crucial talks aimed at setting deep water quotas with the Council of Fisheries in Luxembourg later this month would now be seriously undermined.
A Department of Communications and Natural Resources spokeswoman said "nothing has actually changed." She said, except for the name change, the Department would now be "bigger and stronger."
A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach repeated the sentiment saying the Marine portfolio had not changed. She said: "All of the infrastructure of the previous Department will remain in place."
She added that the Taoiseach had considered including Marine within the title of the new department, but "it was felt that the new name was a better one."