Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ar an chéad dul síos, is mian liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl d’Oifig an Cheann Comhairle as ucht deis a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a ardú mar Shaincheist Thráthúil ag an am seo anocht. I refer to the question of a reduction in pelagic quotas - there are demersal quotas - in particular mackerel, blue whiting and boarfish. Drastic reductions were recommended by the International Council for the E…

Europe has been weak in coastal states. The very same Norway will attempt to gain access to fish blue whiting west of Ireland in the next number of weeks. We must oppose that completely and convince Europe to support us in the actions the Minister will take. Market access and trade restrictions for fish products need to be fully applied against Norway, as well as the Faroe Islands and Iceland. Tha…

At the outset, I want to thank Deputy Ward for bringing forward this Private Members' motion to give us the opportunity for a comprehensive debate, albeit one that is too short. On Friday evening last, there had been no transfer of funds to Donegal. I acknowledge that thanks to the intervention of the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, and the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, t…

My question is to ask the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine about the plans he has to address the Commission's proposals to reduce, drastically, the pelagic total level catches.

An indication of the urgency was the Minister of State travelling to Killybegs last Sunday week to meet representatives of the sector from all parts of the country, from Donegal to Cork. There is no need to outline the utter devastation that will result from the reduction of the mackerel quota by 70% and blue whiting by 41%. Thousands of jobs in the sector will be lost. This is the same sector tha…

At this stage, it is not compensation we want; we want fish. The Minister of State will have to get the European Council to assist him. This is the first time this has happened. I go back to the days of Commissioner Damanaki, who was more in favour of Iceland than the European maritime states. The Minister of State's problem is that he will go into a Council of Ministers meeting and there will be …

The programme for Government pledges to explore the provision of an additional surgical hub for the north west in a timely manner. On 24 February, I attended a meeting with HSE executives, who, after pressing, indicated that Sligo was the preferred choice. Shortly after that, the Minister visited Letterkenny. She came in listening mode. She listened to the professionals there and met the TDs and O…

I know I am being squeezed out-----

-----but this is important.

The Ceann Comhairle would appreciate if this-----

Will the Government confirm that a decision was taken in a back room with the Lowry supporters? Was a decision taken that the additional surgical hub would be in Sligo at the expense of Letterkenny?

Lo and behold, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, is here in the House-----

This is important to Donegal.

I do understand it.

I understand it, but the Ceann Comhairle was not as severe with others.

Can I ask the Minister, the Government-----

I could have placed the question now.

I want to say very clearly in this House that I am a Donegal man and I am not going to accept that people from outside Donegal would take decisions for Donegal. I want to know if this decision was taken by the Government in a back room.

Do not thank me at all.

Cé atá ag dul le glacadh an cheist, an Aire nó an Aire Stáit?

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 …

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I hope it will not be too long before a meeting is convened between the Tánaiste, the First Minister and respective Ministers. There is only one positive I can take from the judgment, which is that "The shortcomings and shortcuts in the decision making highlighted in this judgment are capable of being remedied". I hope that can be done but this never…

20. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Taoiseach for a report on new shared island projects. [16782/25]

16. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland will meet next. [16781/25]

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 pr…