Sinn Féin want to take jobs out of Cork by moving fisheries department – O’Donovan

Sinn Féin’s manifesto pledges to remove the fisheries base in Cork shows a lack of commitment to rural Ireland, a Fine Gael Councillor has said.

Cllr Noel O’Donovan, who is running for Fine Gael in Cork South West, said Sinn Féin needs to clarify why the party believes the fisheries base must be headquartered in Dublin.

“The Sinn Féin manifesto states that they want to ensure ‘that a dedicated Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine oversees a reformed and refreshed Department, that is headquartered in Dublin.’

“Why are they insisting this be based in Dublin? The people of west Cork have long contributed to and benefitted from having the base in Clonakilty where the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is based.

“It is so important that we ensure rural Ireland is at the core of developing our fisheries policy. Taking this base out of rural Ireland and putting it in Dublin will result in the fishing community feeling disconnected from the people making the decisions that affect their daily lives.  

“Fishing is essential to the livelihood of families across rural Ireland, and we need to ensure we have a rural perspective to understand the issues and challenges facing the fishing industry.

“Fine Gael are committed to our fishing communities and our manifesto sets out our plans to establish a dedicated Minister of State for Fisheries, publish a five-year Fisheries Sector strategy within 100 days of taking office, and allowing future generations to continue their family traditions of earning a livelihood from the sea. All of this will be done with support from the fisheries office based in Cork.

“Sinn Féin need to clarify why they are so willing to take jobs out of Cork, and what their plan is to support those workers who cannot relocate to a Dublin office”, concluded Cllr O’Donovan.