Pat the Cope Gallagher
Donegal · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I pose this question: who is in charge? Is it the Minister of State, the officials in the Department or the SFPA? I will explain the simplicity of all this.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting my Topical Issue. I did not think last time I raised this matter in the House that I would have to come back again. It is not one of the major problems in the Department, which has more to deal with.”
“This has a direct impact on access to the Chinese market. Transfers are made to Holland on Saturday for onward shipment to the premium markets in China where maximum prices can be attained for Irish products. Those landing into Burtonport are deprived of that.”
“There is an insinuation that a fishery officer has to be there every time a vessel is landed. I will pose the question at a later stage and I want the details. Is there a fishery officer at every port when fish are being landed? There is not. I am around long around to know that.”
“I am disappointed to learn that a business case has to be made to open Burtonport for a few hours. When looking at the map of Donegal, there is no designated port from Greencastle to Killybegs where fishermen can land on Saturdays. It is putting people's lives of risks and depriving them of accessing the Chinese market.”
“It happened when a father of a child had to be taken into Burtonport. An initiative has to be taken. There is no way this should be allowed to continue, whether it is the Minister of State, the Department or the SFPA. I had this out with the former executive chairman of the SFPA before his retirement.”
The complete record
Every one of 127 lines we hold for Pat the Cope Gallagher, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 3.
“The whole purpose of that is to fulfil the Good Friday Agreement. I appreciate there are regular meetings between the Executives North and South. I will have another opportunity, but I am calling on the Taoiseach, the Northern Ireland First Minister, the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure to meet shortly to decide on a way forward.”
“This decision shows a glaring disconnect between the legal process and the urgent realities facing communities along this stretch of road and the general public. I came into this House about 44 years ago. I have been travelling this road all my life. Through the difficult days of the 1970s and 1980s, I always came down the A5. In those early days, we were of the view that the best stretch of the route was the A5. That was only because it had a smooth surface. The bends were the same. They are still the same today. With all the developments that have taken place on other parts of that route, though, it is now the worst stretch of road from the north west or, indeed, in the whole country. The proposed cost of this road project is £1.2 billion or €1.6 billion. The Irish taxpayers have committed €600 million from the shared island initiative.”
“Justice McAlinden in a Belfast court to quash a decision of the Northern Ireland Executive to proceed to construction with the A5. That is, proceeding to construction subject to the agreement of terms with contractors and the conclusion of the ongoing legal battle. Why was the approval overturned? From our understanding of it and the judgment, it was overturned because the A5 was not meeting a Stormont draft climate action plan that was published only last week. We are also told there was difficulty staying within Stormont's first carbon budget and the environmental impact of the new road was not properly assessed. It is not good enough that was not done. Challenges came from farmers in the area. There was also the question of the impact on homes and farms and a breach of the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Is ceist fhíorthábhachtach í seo. Níl mé róshásta ach caithfear glacadh leis an Aire atá agamsa anseo anocht. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl as ucht an deis atá agamsa chun an cheist seo faoin A5 a phlé anseo sa Teach mar aon leis an chinneadh a rinne an Breitheamh McAlinden i gcúirt i mBéal Feirste ag tús na seachtaine agus an tionchar atá ag an chinneadh sin ar an togra A5, an bóthar idir Achadh na Cloiche agus an Srath Bán. Ceanglaíonn an bóthar 88 km sin an iarthuaisceart agus Contae Mhuineacháin ag dul ar aghaidh go dtí an M1 go dtí Baile Átha Cliath. Ceanglaíonn sé Doire, Dún na nGall, Tír Eoghain agus Muineacháin. Cuireann an cinneadh a rinneadh an cinneadh a rinne Stormont ar ceal. I would prefer not to be here tonight raising this issue regarding the A5. The issue is the decision of Mr.”
“Can he clarify that Sligo will maintain its 24-hour coverage, which is all-important? It is often said that if one has a heart attack on Tory Island or Arranmore Island, that is better because the person will be in Derry, Letterkenny Sligo or Galway more quickly than if they were along the coast, given it can take a number of hours to get there by ambulance. Perhaps the Minister of State can clarify those questions for me.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I hope it will clear up some of the misunderstandings that may have arisen. Perhaps he will clarify why the temporary HEMS restriction only applies to the Shannon base and the Coast Guard continues to provide a nationwide service. Why is there that differentiation and is it only a temporary measure? Will the Minister of State confirm that Rescue 118 will maintain its 24-hour coverage once it transfers to Bristow Ireland or might it be reduced to a 12-hour service, as seen in Shannon? Whatever part of the coast that fishing vessels are located, if medical assistance is needed, all parts are important. Why is it a 12-hour service out of Shannon when there is a 24-hour service out of the other areas, in particular Sligo in the north-west?”
“The last helicopters could carry 20 survivors and two stretchers. There has to be clarity on this. I hope that, after the Minister of State's response, we will be in a better position to clarify for our fishing sector and our island communities the importance of this service.”
“Will Rescue 118 maintain its 24-hour coverage once the contract has been transferred to the new company or will it be reduced to a 12-hour service as it is in Shannon at the moment? Why has the transition process been so unclear, leaving crews and communities in the dark about their own future? That deserves clarity. What contingency plans are in place to ensure uninterrupted search and rescue coverage, particularly for islands and rural communities? Can the Government guarantee that the new company will meet the contract's original commitment of an all-weather 24-hour service 365 days per year? There are concerns that stretchers may not fit into helicopters as they have in the past. When someone has a heart attack or acquires a spinal injury, a stretcher is absolutely essential.”
“In the present day, there are genuine concerns about the new aircraft and their suitability for island-related helicopter emergency medical services, HEMS. Some people are trying to suggest that these services are secondary to search and rescue requirements, but that is not a fact. Search and rescue services and emergency medical services are equally important. Our island communities are extremely worried that the helicopter services that will be provided going forward may not be as good as those provided over the last number of years because there is to be a change in the type of helicopter providing the services. I will pose a number of questions to the Minister of State with responsibility.”
“Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam an cheist seo a phlé. The question I pose tonight about helicopter services in the north west brings me back to an Adjournment Debate in this House in February 1988. I was present that night. The untimely death in February 1988 of John Oglesby from Kincaslough, County Donegal, who died aboard his fishing vessel the Neptune off the Mayo coast, led to a campaign to provide emergency services around the coast. I was Minister of State at the time. The Government of the day; the Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey; and the Minister for the Marine, Brendan Daly, established an independent expert group under the chairmanship of the former Garda Commissioner, Eamonn Doherty, and came up with a number of recommendations. As a result of that, we have these services around the coast.”
“Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá comhairleoirí contae againn i nDún na nGall atá ag déanamh ionadaíochta thar ceann Dhún na nGall, oiread is na Gaeltachtaí eile, ina measc fear a bhfuil clú agus cáil air tríd an tír, an comhairleoir a thug chorn Sam ar ais go dtí Dún na nGall sa bhliain 1992, Anthony Molloy. Tá sé ag freastal ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ar Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall agus é ag déanamh jab iontach. Níl mise i bhfabhar iad a fhágáil amach as.”
“Maidir leis an leasú seo, bhí mise i gcónaí i bhfabhar go mbeadh deis ag comhairleoirí contae seasamh i dtoghcháin Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá nasc idir obair an chomhairle contae agus obair an údaráis agus ceapaimse go mbeidh sé sin tábhachtach don duine a toghfar. B’fhéidir nach mbeidh suim ar bith acu ann ach ba cheart deis a thabhairt do na daoine sin. Is dóigh go mbeidh sé seo inchreidte ach bhí mise mar bhall den Teach seo, mar bhall den chomhairle contae agus mar Aire Stáit ag an am céanna, agus bhí mé ábalta freastal ar gach ceann acu. Bhí mise ag iarraidh dul ar ais ag obair sa chomhairle contae sa bhliain 1999 ach tugadh reachtaíocht isteach ag cur deireadh leis an dual mandate. Tá mise i bhfabhar é fhágáil mar atá sé toisc gur cheart go mbeadh deis ag comhairleoirí contae.”
“Tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ábalta teacht ar réiteach maidir leis sin. Go ginearálta, cuirim fáilte roimh an méid seo agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Ní hé an chéad Aire Gaeltachta as Contae Mhaigh Eo. Smaoiním ar dhaoine cosúil le Paddy O'Toole, Donncha Ó Gallchóir agus Pádraig Ó Floinn. Tá go leor oibre le déanamh ag an Aire ach tá a fhios agam go bhfuil a chroí sa Ghaeltacht agus sa Ghaeilge. Molaim go mór é ós rud é gurb é seo ceann de na chéad Bhillí a tháinig ar ais go dtí an Dáil. Bhí sé anseo roimhe. Gheobhaidh an tAire lántacaíocht na dTeachtaí atá anseo ag déanamh ionadaíochta thar ceann na Gaeltachta. Tá an Ghaeltacht i bhfad níos mó ná an Ghaeltacht amháin; tá pobal na Gaeilge ann. Deirtear liom go bhfuil níos mó daoine i mBaile Átha Cliath ag labhairt Gaeilge ná mar atá sna Gaeltachtaí eile.”
“Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeadh lántacaíocht an Aire, agus tá a fhios agam go mbeidh, don seans seo maoiniú ceart a thabhairt d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun jabanna a mhealladh go dtí na háiteanna ar imeall an domhain, cosúil le hiarthar Dhún na nGall, Contae Mhaigh Eo, Contae na Gaillimhe agus áiteanna eile. Ar ndóigh, beidh ceisteanna faoin leasú seo. Nuair a bheidh an toghchán thart agus an deichniúr tofa mar ionadaithe ar Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ba mhaith liomsa go mbeadh níos mó ná beirt againn i nDún na nGall ach, mar a dúradh liom, tá an deichniúr bunaithe ar an daonra sna réigiúin éagsúla agus caithfear glacadh leis sin, beidh deis ag an Aire seisear a ainmniú ansin agus bí cinnte de go mbeidh siad ag dul thart ar na Gaeltachtaí go léir agus b’fhéidir ar na hoileáin. Ní bheadh a fhios agat.”
“Tá súil agam go mbeidh an aimsir níos fearr agus go mbeidh sé ar an lá céanna mar beidh sé níos éasca daoine a mhealladh amach chun a vóta a chaitheamh ar an lá sin. Chaith mé tréimhse mar Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta ó 1989 go dtí 1994. Bhí cúraimí na Gaeltachta orm nuair a bhí an t-iarThaoiseach, Cathal Ó hEochaidh, mar Aire Gaeltachta ag an am sin. Tá a fhios agam cé chomh tábhachtach is atá Údarás na Gaeltachta. Bhí sé ábalta poist a mhealladh go dtí an Ghaeltacht. Gan Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá mé cinnte de nach mbeidh an oiread sin post sa Ghaeltacht.”
“Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Bhille seo ar ais sa Dáil. Tá súil agam go ndéanfar cinnte anois go mbeidh toghchán Údarás na Gaeltachta againn i mbliana, b’fhéidir ar an lá céanna is a bheidh toghchán fá choinne na hUachtaránachta. Ar ndóigh, tá mé féin thart fada go leor agus tá cuimhne agam ar an chéad toghchán d’Údarás na Gaeltachta in 1979. Ba é an t-iarTheachta Dála as Maigh Eo, Donncha Ó Gallchóir, a bhí ina Aire ag an am sin, cosúil leis an Aire reatha arb as Maigh Eo dó fosta. Is cuimhin liom an lá nuair a bhí an toghchán sin againn. Bhí sé againn i rith an gheimhridh agus bhí sé ag cur báistí i rith an lae. Bíonn sé iontach deacair daoine a fháil amach i rith an gheimhridh agus an aimsir chomh olc sin.”
“Tá go leor daoine sa Ghaeltacht ag fanacht, mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Muineacháin, ar thoghcháin Údarás na Gaeltachta. Nuair a bhí mé féin ann, bhí go leor airgid chun na bóithre áise a chóiriú. Níl sé sin ann anois agus tá sé mar sprioc ag an Rialtas airgead a chur ar fáil go luath.”
“Nuair a bhí mé féin i bParlaimint na hEorpa thar na blianta, ghlac mé an deis agus labhair mé an Ghaeilge. Tháinig go leor daoine chugam ina dhiaidh sin nach raibh a fhios acu go raibh an Ghaeilge againn. Dúirt siad nach raibh a fhios acu go raibh ár dteanga dhúchais againn. Bhí mé mar pháirt de ghrúpa ina dhiaidh sin chun aistriúcháin a chur ar fáil. Bhí Eamon Ó Cuív mar Aire na Gaeltachta mar pháirt de sin chomh maith. Caithfimid dea-shampla a thabhairt don aos óg. Is an-deis é seo inniu, ós rud é go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo againn i nGaeilge. B’fhéidir gur cheart go mbeadh díospóireachtaí níos minice againn i nGaeilge agus treoir a thabhairt don aos óg. Caithfimid déanamh cinnte de go mhairfidh an teanga. Caithfimid í a chaomhnú agus í a chur chun cinn. Déarfaidh mé rud amháin fá dtaobh den chlár Rialtais.”
“Déanaim comhghairdeas le hAire na Gaeltachta, an Teachta Calleary, atá ceaptha anois. Ar ndóigh, beidh sé ag coinneáil súil ghéar ar na Gaeltachtaí éagsúla sa tír, ach ní ar na Gaeltachtaí amháin ach ar phobal na Gaeilge tríd an tír. Fáiltím roimh an deis seo labhairt sa díospóireacht seo ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Ní seachtain na Gaeilge atá i gceist anois; tá thart ar choicís nó níos mó i gceist. Nuair a bunaíodh Seachtain na Gaeilge in 1902, is Conradh na Gaeilge a bhunaigh é agus tá an-jab déanta aige thar na blianta sin. Tá go leor féilte tríd an tír agus smaoiním ar an cheann i mo bhaile dhúchais féin, féile Mary from Dungloe nó Féile Mháire an Chlocháin Léith. Gach uile Déardaoin i rith an fhéile sin, bíonn lá Gaeilge ann. Tagann daoine ó gach chairn den chontae agus níos faide i gcéin chun a bheith mar pháirt den fhéile sin.”
“Mar fhocal scoir, tá áthas orm go bhfuil an reachtaíocht seo ag dul tríd na Dála agus nach fada go mbeidh Aire Stáit na mara agus iascaigh againn a dhéanfaidh gach uile ní chun cuidiú leis na hiascairí sa tír seo. Cuideoidh sé ní hamháin leis na hiascairí ach freisin leo siúd atá ag plé le próiseáil éisc sa tír.”
“I challenge anybody to point out instances where penalty points are dealt with as a criminal offence in other countries. They are dealt with by means of an administrative sanction, and that will be for another day. We have to look seriously at this. I again welcome the appointment of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I know that he will engage with the fishing sector the length and breadth of the country and that he will represent us well in Europe. I have experience, not alone as a member of the European Parliament but also as a member of its fisheries committee, of attending, with delegated authority, many Council meetings at which we fought into the early hours of the morning to secure the best deal for our country and our fishers.”
“I know first hand about the decline of the industry and the pressure it is under. We in Ireland are too fond of interpreting the directives that come from Europe and European legislation in a way that is different from the interpretation in other countries. That is particularly the case when it comes to fishing, but I am sure it is no different in other Departments. I will provide an example. When we were in opposition I led out on introducing the rescinding of a statutory instrument laid before the House. I did so within 21 days and got it overturned. Unfortunately, for some reason not known to me, that was overturned some time after I left the House. We interpret the legislation in different ways. We look at it as being a criminal offence.”
“There are the small farmers who work in the fish factories. I remember when I was involved in processing in Killybegs years ago that it went on for weeks and weeks throughout the winter. They came in to process whitefish and pelagic fish, such as herring, mackerel and blue whiting. Of course, boarfish is becoming available now and we have a very high percentage of the quota. We do not have big quantities now, but when we do, we will have 80% of the quota. I would like to think I played no small part when I was a member of fisheries committee in the European Parliament. The industry is at very critical stage and I cannot overemphasise this. We need action from the Government and the Minister of State who, I hope, will work hand in hand with the industry over the coming weeks, months and years.”
“I believe he will have the support of the sector because prior to the election the sector made a case that a Minister of State with responsibility for the marine should be appointed. It lobbied extensively. I did so in my party and it is fair to say there was cross-party support for such an appointment. In his new role, the Minister of State will need the full support of the Government. That support must include additional current and capital funding. The industry employs 16,000 people in coastal regions in the north, south, east and west of the country. All of them have no alternative sources of employment. It is forgotten by those who criticise the industry that so many people are employed in the industry. It is not all about those who are making the investment and who appear to be doing well.”
“I recall very well former European Commissioner Michel Barnier, who was negotiating at that time, addressing this House. I met him afterwards and he looked me straight in the eye. I told him I was concerned about the future of the sector. He said I need not have any concern because he would ensure that in the negotiations on fishing and trade would be inextricably linked. They were not inextricably linked. The industry, the country and our rural communities lost out as a result of this. He said there would be no great implications. Regardless of whether he meant what he said, the fact is that there were serious implications. I welcome the appointment of the new Minister of State, Deputy Dooley.”
“That was the way he operated. I was back in the Department in 2004 and had responsibility for the marine. I requested delegated authority and I had authority at the time. The industry and the sector had a Minister of State to go to and it could be in contact regularly. It was decided some years ago that a Minister would take responsibility for the marine. That was the wrong decision because the marine needs a hands-on Minister of State who is available daily to deal with the sector. For this reason, I welcome the Bill. We are at a critical stage when it comes to the fishing industry. We lost 25% of the value of our fish because of Brexit. This is a loss of €200 million to coastal communities in which there is no alternative source of employment.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht cúpla bomaite dá chuid ama a thabhairt dom chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don reachtaíocht seo atá ag dul tríd na Dála anocht. I welcome the appointment of the additional Ministers of State and, in particular, the appointment of a Minister of State who will have responsibility for fisheries and the marine. This will be the first time since 2011 that we will have such a Minister of State with full delegated authority. Going back too many years ago to 1987, I recall very well when the Taoiseach and the Government of the day appointed the first Minister for the Marine. That was a Clare man, the late Brendan Daly. I was appointed as his Minister of State. There was no necessity for delegated authority because at the time every file that came up the line to the Minister went through me first.”