McCarthy says hardship fund needed following EU blow to our fishing industry

11.21.00am GMT Wed 19th Dec 2007

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy has blasted EU fishing time cutbacks which will hit the local industry hard and he has called on the Minister to consider setting up a hardship fund for those working in the fishing industry. There will be a reduction in fishing time of 10% for the prawn and 18% for the whitefish industries respectively.

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: "The minister must look towards establishing a hardship fund to help people working in our local fishing industry. The Executive needs to ensure that these extremely hard-working people do not lose their livelihoods.

"I am very disappointed at news of EU cutbacks on the number of days people are allowed to fish.

"It's good to see local politicians negotiating on behalf of Northern Ireland but I would have hope that they would deliver a better deal.

"The Executive needs to keep pushing Brussels to get the best deal possible for our local fishing industry. What we have been given today is simply not good enough."

ENDS