MINISTER of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen has said that there are “other valid dimensions” to economic recovery which would preclude implementing all of the McCarthy report cuts.
Mr Killeen says the McCarthy report was the basis for a “very detailed debate on where we want to go”. However, there are “other valid dimensions”, he said, such as the socio-economic impact of certain cuts, and he was “cognisant” of the opposition expressed by the seafood sector to the report’s proposed abolition of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
Last week, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan signalled similar concerns in relation to social impact.
“This is where McCarthy runs into trouble because there is no social policy perspective, and that is because it is basically dealing with money,” Ms Coughlan said in response to a question on opportunities for unemployed people with minimal education.
Mr Killeen, who was in Galway to initiate a BIM eco-labelling system for Irish seafood, said that it would be “highly irresponsible” of him to ignore any recommendation that might save €7.3 million, as the McCarthy report had identified in relation to BIM savings.
While he was “keeping an open mind”, Mr Killeen said that it was not clear to him where these savings could be made.
BIM chief executive Jason Whooley said that the proposed savings would have a negative effect on the industry. Some €6.8 million of the €7.3 million in savings would reduce support to the seafood sector, he told The Irish Times in Galway.
“The McCarthy report doesn’t address job creation and how local communities can be sustained,” Mr Whooley said. “It looks at saving €5 billion of a €20 billion deficit, but growing the economy is one way of addressing the €15 billion balance, and I would hope that BIM would have a role in this,” he said.
The eco-assured standard for Irish seafood initiated by Mr Killeen and Mr Whooley in Galway will have a significant impact on sales of fish in the domestic market, both emphasised.
The eco-assured label is regarded as a “gold standard”, in that it is accredited independently, and catchers have to provide evidence that they are adhering to a recognised environmental management system. “We can’t compete against imports on price, but Irish skippers can compete on quality and sustainable catching methods,” Mr Whooley said.