GET REAL

Dear Editor,

Ireland needs a ‘Yes’ vote to increase its chances of achieving the best possible deal for our fishermen.

A ‘Yes’ vote will undoubtedly put Ireland in a stronger position of influence heading into the review of the Common Fisheries Policy, a review which has already got underway.

We need to get real, a ‘No’ vote will not change or improve the situation one iota. The fish market is international and the Irish fishing industry is largely dependent on exports.

Since we joined the EU, we have successfully developed markets within the EU. They are now the main markets for the Irish fishing industry which prior to accession to the EU was largely dependent on the UK and home markets.

Lisbon gives us the opportunity to send a strong message to Europe that we are committed members of the EU and prepared to work with our partners. Some claim the EU has been the net beneficiary of fish from Irish waters.

But these are based on bogus statistics that claim the EU has taken €200 billion worth of fish from our waters and taken up to 40% of our catch. The real truth is that the total value of fish taken out of Irish waters between 1974 and 2004 is approx. € 8.5 billion, not €200 billion.

While 8.5% of the fish caught in EU waters comes from Irish waters, nowhere near the 40% claimed. Alongside this, Irish boats have been landing an increasing share of fish caught in Irish waters.

Irish landings of fish have more than doubled since Ireland joined the EU and the size of the Irish fishing fleet has gone up significantly, while fishing fleets across the EU have shrunk by as much as 20%. The changes to fisheries policy under the Lisbon Treaty will give the European Parliament a greater role in decision making.

The parliament will share decision making with the Council of Fisheries Ministers and this will give MEPs a very important role in determining future policy.

Europe offers the best hope of achieving a sustainable future for fishermen throughout Ireland.

Yours sincerely,
Brendan Hayes,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork.

A SINCERE THANK YOU

Dear Editor,

To the shopkeepers, businesses, The Avondhu and the people of Fermoy town, I wish to say thanks from my heart for their outpouring of goodwill to me last week when I visited them.

I had the pleasant privilege of helping the St Patrick’s Hospital Fund through the efforts of “The Four Amigos” in slimming down.

In such an economic climate it was a joy to receive such a great return for such a worthy institution “our hospital”.

Thank you again,
Dave Roche,
De Valera Drive,
Fermoy,
Co. Cork.

COURSING LICENCE

Dear Editor,

As an opponent of live hare coursing I am encouraged by the fact that the license permitting the annual widespread netting of hares in our countryside has not yet been granted to the hare baiting clubs.

In past years, the license was issued by the environment minister in August, the reason being that coursing clubs needed about a month to both capture enough hares for the first baiting fixtures of the season in late September and to “train” the hares as they call it for these events.

I hope this delay in granting the netting license reflects a change of heart on the part of the Department of the Environment and a timely recognition by the minister, Mr Gormley, that Ireland’s hare population is under grave threat.

Within the past week, Northern Ireland renewed its suspension on all coursing and hunting of hares due to the creature’s endangered status in the province. It is a fact that hare density in the Republic is similar to that pertaining in Northern Ireland and also that the Irish hare is designated by the Red Data Book on Irish flora and fauna and by the Department of the Environment as an endangered species.

Hare coursing impacts on the hare population in many ways: It engenders widespread disruption to the species and its habitats and the long-term effects of the stressful ordeal to which the creatures are subjected by coursing clubs has yet to be fully determined.

Many hares die from injuries sustained during netting (mainly broken bones that do not heal)…becoming entangled in the nets as they struggle desperately and in terror to escape the netting gangs.

These “kills” are seldom taken into account by coursing clubs when reporting on their activities for a given season, the emphasis being on what happens on coursing day.

At a time when the Irish hare’s conservation status is officially deemed “poor” by the State’s Wildlife Service, it is surely inconceivable that the environment minister would even contemplate allowing gangs of animal cruelty fans to scour the countryside in search of hares as live bait for coursing.

With the species under severe pressure from loss of habitat resulting from urbanisation and aggressive agricultural methods, it can certainly do without the additional threat posed by the net men and coursing clubs.

Hare coursing evokes shame and utter revulsion in most people. Every animal welfare association in the world opposes it, as does; according to every opinion poll conducted on the issue to date, the vast majority of the Irish people. Now is the time for Minister Gormley to pull the plug on this pathetic excuse for a sport.

Such a move would be welcomed by the Green movement worldwide, and represent an act of mercy towards one of the gentlest creatures on this planet.

Thanking you,
John Fitzgerald (Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports)
Lower Coyne Street,
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny.