Priest decries EU, Irish Government’s ‘betrayal’ of Irish fisheries

A Donegal priest has criticised the Irish Government and the EU over the Brexit deal, which he calls a “huge disaster” for Irish fisheries and a “betrayal” of the industry.

Fr John Joe Duffy from Creeslough, Co. Donegal, estimated that the deal could cost up to €100 million for Irish fisheries. It will be a particularly “awful hit for coastal communities” such as Fr Duffy’s own parish.

“For my own community, we may lose up to €60 million,” Fr Duffy told The Irish Catholic. “There’s going to be a decommissioning of Irish fishing boats and it’s going to have an awful impact on jobs in the border, midlands and western region of which Donegal is part.”

Questioned

Fr Duffy questioned the Irish Government’s understanding of Irish fishing’s importance to the country and communities, saying they were “outmanoeuvred” by bigger states.

“Our officials were inept and they were thrown onto the French guillotine. On average – for mackerel and pelagic mackerel alone – we have lost over three times more than any other country,” Fr Duffy said. “For our pelagic sector, we have lost almost €28 million. Other countries have lost a lot less, Spain lost €750,000, Belgium €142,000, France €6.9 million, Netherlands €15 million – they have a massive sector, a huge factory ship industry, Denmark lost €5 million.”

Disaster

“It’s a huge disaster. I would say it’s the greatest sell out ever of Irish business and a betrayal. It protects Denmark, it protects Germany, it protects Holland particularly, the Spanish and the French, at Ireland’s expense.”

Fr Duffy added that due to the lack of ports in Ireland, Irish fisherman in the North of Ireland face 16-24 hour long journeys to reach a designated port.

“I am very, very worried that lives are going to be lost by what the Irish Government are implementing,” Fr Duffy said.