Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities

MARINE TIMES NEWS April 9th:
IFPEA welcome the creation of an Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

The Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association welcomes the news that the Oireachtas is to create a full dedicated Committee of both houses Dáil Eireann and Seanad Eireann on all matters relating Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

"Following the creation of the Fisheries and Marine Minister, an appointment that gave the sector a Minister for the first time in 14 years, this is viewed as an extremely positive development and one which we have long lobbied for in the IFPEA.

"The creation of an Oireachtas Committee for Fisheries and Marine Affairs, will provide the necessary focus on the industry, guide and challenge us in the relevance of all things that we are currently undertaking. As it will be a full Oireachtas Committee it will have the power of oversight and probing where necessary, it will also scrutinise policy and amend policy at Committee stage in line with other such Committees. It will also provide an important platform for industry to express their views directly to politicians within an Oireachtas setting.

"Oireachtas Committees are an invaluable tool for any sector of the economy, in highlighting the needs and issues relating to or directly impacting on a critical sector of the economy which the fishing and maritime sectors truly are. For too long Fisheries and Maritime matters have been left drift without the necessary attention that it required, now with a new Minister focusing on Fisheries and Marine and a robust Programme for Government it is time to chart a better way of doing things and improving our sectors whether that be inshore /off shore production, Aquaculture or the processing, exporting sector or retail sectors which the IFPEA represent.

"It is welcome news and one which will have a massive role to play in the years ahead" concluded Brendan Byrne CEO of the IFPEA.