Taoiseach, Minister of State,Ladies and Gentlemen
The plan we are launching today has the potential to revolutionise the seafood industry in Ireland within six years. We can ensure that the industry generates over €1 billion for the economy and remains a major source of jobs, particularly in coastal communities.
The strategy, ‘Steering a new course’ is designed to take our seafood industry to a new plane. We have a great indigenous, natural resources in our oceans and seas. “Steering a New Course” shows how we can use them in a sustainable way. This way we can create more jobs and much more wealth. We can also ensure our coastal communities thrive.
Using the recommendations in the “Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry”, the Government is proposing to invest significantly in the people who can turn this industry around.
That can only be done if we all wholeheartedly embrace the suggestion in the report that all key stakeholders should be “operating in concert and in a mutually respectful manner”.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and the Department I can assure you that is our intent.
Working together is:
• in the best interest of the industry,
• in the best interest of our coastal communities
• and in the best interests of the country
This plan is a way forward for the industry. However it’s great potential for growth and success is matched by the great risk of failure if all stakeholders do not cooperate. We are rapidly approaching a tipping point where fish stocks are dwindling to dangerously low levels. All must be committed to building a sustainable industry.
The proposed allocation of €334 million in the NDP—an extra €118 over and above the original NDP figures is testament to the Government’s commitment to steering this new course with the industry.
This is the framework needed to sort out the problems in the industry, to modernise its operations and market its products in Ireland and throughout the world.
I believe that by 2013 we can have a seafood industry that is sustainable, more profitable, and most of all, truly competitive and market-focused.
We can capitalise on the nutritional benefits of Irish seafood and create a more innovative and co-ordinated approach to processing and marketing seafood throughout the world.
The resources are being provided to make sure that, within the next few years, we can have a seafood industry that has a greater customer-focused approach in Irish and export markets.
I want to see more investment and detailed market research on new products and an ‘Irish Seafood Island’ brand recognisable around the world.
I am committed to providing financial support for the industry. I also believe that an efficient and market-driven industry will attract private sector investment. In turn, companies will generate new, sustainable jobs around the country.
I know, better than anyone else, that to achieve this will require a lot of commitment from all of us.
We need to tackle the current fleet imbalance, through voluntary decommissioning-----to stop dividing smaller quotas among too many vessels.
We will then have a fundamentally new role for the fish producer organisations in relation to quota management.
All existing procedures and processes will have to be reviewed. The fishing fleet also needs access to the best equipment and on-board technologies.
In order to achieve maximum efficiency, I want to see an efficient landing and distribution infrastructure set up as well as a more effective and co-ordinated arrangement for first-point-of-sale for seafood.
If we are to achieve this transformation, it will be vital to have a plan in place to attract and retain new entrants, backed up with commercially-focused education and training programmes in the seafood sector.
I know that working together, fishermen, fish farmers, processors and the Government can realise cost reductions and better performance.
However, I am acutely aware that to make this happen requires investment as well as hard work. That is why John Brown and I sought and got a package which, when private sector financing is taken into account, will amount to almost €600 million
This is the largest investment, ever, for the development of the seafood industry in the history of this State.
This funding matched with the seafood industry working cohesively and collaboratively with Government and the relevant agencies will ensure its timely and appropriate delivery.
With that in mind, I am pleased to confirm that the Chairman of the Group, which devised the Strategy, Mr Noel Cawley, has accepted the Government’s request to Chair a high level group to oversee the implementation all the recommendations set out in the report.
It will include representatives from each of the catching, aquaculture and processing/marketing sectors, as well as the Department’s Seafood Policy Divisions and relevant State Agencies
I would like to thank Noel Cawley, Joey Murrin and Ruán O’Bric for the great work they have done on this strategy and for the State and the seafood sector.
I also thank all of you who worked with this team to bring this strategy to fruition.
It is now time to open a new chapter in the development of our Seafood Sector.
My colleagues and I are up for the challenge and I ask everyone in the seafood industry to join us in making your industry, your companies, your jobs profitable, sustainable and to make Irish seafood the pride of Europe again.
ENDS