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Howth
caught in harbour charge net
A
decision by the Department of the Marine to increase
harbour charges at five main fishing ports around the
country, including Howth, will prove another setback
for the fishing industry, it was claimed this week.
Labour's marine spokesperson, Tommy Broughan TD, warned
that the increased charges at the ports would further
weaken an already embattled industry.
"In
my own local port of Howth, I know of several people
who are facing redundancy in the marine repair and maintenance
business because of the downturn in fishing," said
Deputy Broughan.
"It
is incredible that the Minister for the Marine, Dermot
Ahern's, only pro-active policy for the industry is
to ramp up harbour charges.”
Deputy Broughan also accused Minister Ahern of "playing
cruel games" with the industry.
"First,
he came forward in May with totally outrageous increases
in charges for harbour use and then signed an order
for lower but still backbreaking increases in charges,"
he said.
"Increases
of up to 300 per cent for harbour entry and landings
are another serious imposition on an industry facing
a tough future and on 25,000 Irish families who depend
on fishing for their livelihoods.”
Some of the charges are for the use of slipways which
are used by skippers to repair their boats and carry
out essential refitting work.
According to Philip O’Neill of the Howth Fishermen’s
Association, the chrages are receiving a very cold response
from his colleagues who are still suffering the fall
out from cuts to quotas initiated in Europe.
“This
is the final straw for many of us here,” said Mr
O’Neill. “The Department of the Marine appears
to be determined to drive us out of the water. After
the cuts in our quotas when they let us down in Europe,
this has come as yet another insult.”
“We
will go somewhere else,” he said. “It’s
as simple as that. It’s not the boatyard owner’s
fault – it’s the department.”
Deputy Broughan claimed that Minister Ahern had failed
to deliver in tackling ongoing grave difficulties with
the Common Fisheries Policy.
"Yet
he can produce a new regime of harbour charges which
may increase costs for some skippers in the five national
ports, including Howth, by up to e50,000 a year,”
said Deputy Broughan.
Fisherman’s
blues: Philip O’Neill of the Howth Fisherman’s
Association pictured earlier this year when harbour
charges were first announced. FILE PHOTO
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