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Sinn Fein Agriculture Minister under fire for ‘snub’ on Northern Irish fishing talks
http://www.newslette...talks_1_3501615
PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 8/9/2011: Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill watches the eels being sorted at Lough Neagh Eel Fishermen's Co-operative Society with Father Oliver Kennedy, Chairman of the Co-op, during her visit to Toomebridge today. The visit marks the award of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) to Lough Neagh Eels. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Published on Thursday 9 February 2012 09:04

THE Conservative Party has attacked the Sinn Fein Agriculture Minister for failing to show up at a meeting with Portavogie fishermen and the UK fisheries minister.

Conservative MP Richard Benyon, the fisheries’ minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), met local fishing industry representatives at Portavogie on Tuesday. But he slammed Stormont Fisheries Minister Michelle O’Neill and her officials for not attending.

Paul Leeman, fisheries spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Conservatives, last night accused the Sinn Fein minister of being “far more preoccupied with her own political agenda”.

He said: “What fishermen keep telling us is that they have to turn to the Government at Westminster to address their concerns, because DARD, under the Sinn Fein minister, is working to a different agenda.

“A recurring theme of the meeting yesterday was the difficulties which have been caused by the EU’s cod recovery plan.”

He said there was a particular problem with fishermen having to fit special gear to avoid catching white fish, in order to meet EU regulations.

However this makes their vessels unsuitable for the Northern Ireland fleet and ineffective as prawn boats.

“DEFRA, in conjunction with other devolved administrations in the UK, is working to find a solution to this,” he said.

“Meanwhile the minister in Northern Ireland has capitulated to this EU diktat and agreed to meet its demands, without establishing a viable alternative”.

By shunning the Portavogie meeting she also missed out on an opportunity to discuss Marine Conservation Zones, which DEFRA is charged with implementing but which will significantly affect Northern Ireland fishermen, he added.

A spokeswoman for Ms O’Neill said that Mr Benyon visited Northern Ireland at the invitation of Northern Ireland Office minister Hugo Swire.

“Minister O’Neill was informed of the visit on January 31 but due to prior diary commitments was unavailable to meet with Mr Benyon and fishing industry on the February 6 and 7. However, the minister did have a meeting with Messrs Benyon and Swire on the evening of the February 6 during which the ministers had a helpful exchange of views on a range of fisheries related issues.”

Subjects discussed included Common Fisheries Policy reform, marine conservation zone planning and the scientific benchmark assessment of Irish Sea Herring.

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Government doing more to stand up for fishermen than Stormont minister
http://www.niconserv...ormont-minister
Thursday, 9 February, 2012

Paul Leeman, fisheries spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Conservatives, has claimed that the government in Westminster is doing more to address the concerns of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland than the executive at Stormont.

He made his comments after Richard Benyon MP, the fisheries’ minister at DEFRA, met with local fishing industry representatives at Portavogie yesterday. The DARD minister, Michelle O’Neill, and her officials didn’t turn up to the meeting.

“What fishermen keep telling us is that they have to turn to the government at Westminster to address their concerns, because DARD, under the Sinn Féin minister, is working to a different agenda”, Paul said. “A recurring theme of the meeting yesterday was the difficulties which have been caused by the EU’s cod recovery plan. In particular there is a requirement for prawn fishing boats to fit special gear, the Swedish grid, designed to avoid catching white fish, in order to secure an exemption from European restrictions on the number of days they can spend at sea”.

“There are a number of problems with this gear, which makes it unsuitable for the Northern Ireland fleet and ineffective for prawn boats. DEFRA, in conjunction with other devolved administrations in the UK, is working to find a solution for fishermen which will protect their interests. Meanwhile the minister in Northern Ireland has capitulated to EU diktat and agreed to meet its demands, without establishing a viable alternative to the Swedish grid”.

“Michelle O’Neill has also made no secret of her desire to sever Northern Ireland’s links with Seafish, the UK wide body which provides support to the fishing industry. That decision seems to be motivated only by a desire to distance the fishing industry here from the rest of the UK.”

“By shunning this meeting with Richard Benyon and local fishing representatives the minister once again demonstrated that she does not put the interests of our fishing industry first. In particular she missed out on an opportunity to discuss Marine Conservation Zones, which DEFRA is charged with implementing but which will have a substantial effect on the industry here. She is far more preoccupied with her own political agenda. It is left to the government at Westminster to listen to fishermen in Northern Ireland and stand up for the industry in Brussels and elsewhere”.

Information on Marine Conservation Zones can be found here: http://www.defra.gov...ervation-zones/


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Dodds Welcomes UK Fisheries Minister
07-02-12
http://www.dianedodd....php?C=1&ID=188

Speaking after her meeting with the United Kingdom's Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP at Hillsborough Castle, the DUP's Diane Dodds MEP welcomed this important visit to Northern Ireland.

"It is proper that United Kingdom Government Ministers find time in their busy schedules to visit this part of the United Kingdom. Fisheries policy is driven by Europe and in his capacity as Fisheries Minister, it is Richard Benyon who is the British voice at the negotiating table in Brussels, supported by his UK Ministerial colleagues, including Michelle O'Neill MLA for this part of the United Kingdom. For some time I have been encouraging Mr. Benyon to visit Northern Ireland, so it is good to finally see him here."

"It is vital the Minister Benyon is fully aware of the issues impacting upon our fishing industry in Northern Ireland. This meeting, together with Mr. Benyon's tour of County Down's fishing ports will provide him with a valuable insight into both the challenges and opportunities facing the industry at sea and onshore."

"The ongoing reform of Europe's Common Fisheries Policy is a major issue, but the practical, day to day issues associated with so called cod recovery measures, as well as quotas for herring and other important stocks are what our industry depends upon. Our fishermen have done much for sustainable fisheries in the Irish Sea. They now want some recognition for the efforts. I know Mr. Benyon will find the message he receives here encouraging. It will be down to him to turn this into a result for the industry."