"Full Review of Common Fishery Policy Needed"

"Full Review of Common Fishery Policy Needed" - Aontú

Aontú Candidate for the Ireland South EU Elections, Patrick Murphy, has called for a full review of Europe's Common Fishery Policy.

Mr Murphy was speaking from Brussels, where he is this week attending meetings of the North Western Waters Advisory Council in Ghent.

Mr Murphy said: "Today we heard more about the dramatic cuts in total allowance catches, known to Industry as Quota or TAC's, under Member state Regional Management and the Advice of the scientists in ICES, in a presentation by the Vice-chair, Joanne Morgan, who travelled from Canada to attend in person. These reductions are across most species in Our North West waters. I made the point that our fishing fleet has diligently followed the scientific advice for the past 10 years"

Mr Murphy continued: "These stocks are continuously being revised downwards. I've requested that future advice must include the other mitigating factors attributed to the negative effects from climate change and other man made contributions such as increased pollution from our rivers flowing into our Seas and Oceans".

"These changes, coupled with the massive changes in fish behaviour and their migration patterns, require a full review of our Common fishery Policy. Fishermen are suffering enormously under extremely heavy regulation, and play a vital service in terms of food production in Ireland", concluded Mr Murphy.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.