Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities

MARINE TIMES NEWS September 9th:
NIFA CLARIFICATION — CASTLETOWNBERE MEETING

The National Inshore Fishermen's Association have issued the following clarification following a recent meeting in Castletownbere ....

Following comments regarding NIFA’s non-attendance at the recent meeting with Minister Martin Heydon in Castletownbere, and some of the public commentary which has followed, we believe it is appropriate to put the facts on record.

On 26 August, NIFA Chairman Michael Desmond received a telephone call asking him to attend a gathering in Castletownbere. He was told that one representative from each organisation would be invited.

Michael was contacted again on the Friday before the meeting to establish whether he could attend. Unfortunately, due to a personal matter, he was unable to do so.

At no stage did NIFA receive a formal or direct invitation from Minister Heydon or his Department, whether by email, telephone, text or letter.

Replacing our Chairman at short notice was not straightforward. Our Vice-Chairman is based in Donegal and attending would have required a considerable journey to West Cork and back, at personal expense. Like the fishermen we represent, our directors are affected by increasingly unsettled weather and the limited opportunities available to get to sea and earn an income.

We also understand that attendance at the gathering extended considerably beyond one representative from each national organisation. This has understandably raised questions among our members about the balance of representation at a meeting presented to our Chairman in very different terms.

NIFA has subsequently faced criticism for its non-attendance and for continuing to raise concerns about Government policy.

We find some of the public back-slapping and criticism of those who dare to question Government particularly disappointing and unnecessary.

This comes at a time when the fishing industry is already under enormous pressure. Unsettled weather continues to reduce opportunities to get to sea, quota losses are restricting earning potential, operating costs remain high, and many fishermen are running on increasingly limited funds as they face into another difficult winter.

These are the realities our members are dealing with. Raising them is not negativity.

Constructive criticism is not negativity, and accountability is not opposition to progress.

NIFA will welcome and support every genuine measure that improves the future of Irish fishing. We will engage constructively with Minister Heydon, Minister Dooley and Government whenever the opportunity arises.

But our responsibility is to our members. That means acknowledging progress when it occurs and speaking up when fishermen believe something is wrong.

Supporting Government when it gets something right does not require representative organisations to remain silent when it gets something wrong.

NIFA will continue to engage. NIFA will continue to challenge. And NIFA will continue to represent its members without apology.

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