An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-22
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Manus Boyle (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I pass on my condolences to Senator Craughwell on the death of his wife and also to Phyllis and the Bonner family. Enda was a man who I knew fairly well. He served on the council along with my father years ago. We had many chats. Believe it or not, during the last chat I had with him about six months ago he told me what I was doing wrong and how he was only putting me right. I thank him for those kind words. We also lost a superstar in Donegal during the summer. I send my condolences to the McHugh and O'Donnell families, and especially to Emma and Eoin, on the deaths of James and Noreen McHugh, who sadly lost their lives over the summer. James was part of the 1992 panel. He really was one of the superstars who brought Sam to Donegal.
Over the summer I travelled to fishing ports over the length and breadth of this country. The frustration that is out there is unreal. It is coming from fishermen and fisherwomen all over this country. I cannot put it into words without getting really mad. I know from talking to inshore fishermen, factory owners and pelagic boat owners that they are all feeling the pain. I know the fuel support scheme came in and there is money left. It needs to be drawn down. We need the Minister to get us answers. We need to get answers on where the Berkery report is at. When will it be published? When can we see it? Where are the port listings for Killybegs? We were told before Christmas that the port listings for Killybegs had been applied for, but I heard today that they have not been applied for. Other countries like Denmark had it within three months. Simple things can make a big difference to coastal communities. Where is the brown crab consultation process at? This issue with brown crab has been going on for years now. We need to get that sorted. Are we going to stand up and fight for Ireland on the Hague preferences or we are just going to roll over as usual? We need our people out fighting for this. All I have heard since I entered politics is about the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP. We need to be doing more than reforming it. We need to get it sorted out. I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh, but it is time for action. We have heard enough words being spoken for the last while. We need action on this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-22