Bill will 'annihilate' fish industry

The Government has insisted that new fisheries legislation must be passed to save taxpayers from hundreds of millions of euro in EU fines, as Fine Gael claimed in a Dáil row that the Bill would "annihilate" the fishing industry.

The row arose as some 250 fishing vessels were expected to blockade Dublin and all fishery ports today in protest at the controversial Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction bill.

John Perry, Fine Gael's marine spokesman, who raised the issue, said there was conflicting legal advice about the legislation. He said advice to the Oireachtas Committee on the Marine differed from that of the Attorney General and that some 20 Government backbenchers spoke out against the legislation.

But Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey insisted that "we do not take our legal advice from the committee. We take it from the Attorney General." Tánaiste Mary Harney said it was important to pass the legislation from the taxpayers' perspective.

Mr Dempsey said "Fine Gael wants to expose taxpayers to more European fines. It will expose them to hundreds of millions of euro in fines." He added that the amendments sought by Fianna Fáil backbenchers were implemented, and added that Deputy Perry was a "disgrace".

Mr Perry claimed the problem was because of the Minister's "mismanagement".

Mr Dempsey said Minister of State Pat "The Cope" Gallagher would take the Bill at Committee stage "and we hope he will get Fine Gael co-operation to get it through so taxpayers will not be exposed to millions of euro in fines".

Mr Perry said that 40,000 people's livelihoods depended on the industry and it would come to a standstill for the blockade today.