LONG overdue cheques to
compensate 140 Foyle driftnet fishermen for the loss
of their livelihoods began being issued on Friday.
Sinn Féin Cllr. Pádraig MacLochlainn welcomed the
development after the hardship funds were delayed at
EU level.
He said a meeting in Brussels last week between his
party colleague, Minister Michelle Gildernew and the
EU Commissioner for Fisheries, Joe Borg helped speed
the payments up.
"I would like to thank Minister Michelle Gildernew
for resolving this matter. Along with our party
colleagues Tarlach Ó Crossáin on the Loughs Agency
and Bairbre de Brún, MEP in Europe, we have done all
we can to ensure the release of these payments in
recent months," said Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"Unfortunately the final stages of the process have
been slowly moving at EU level to everyone's serious
frustration. Thursday's meeting resolved that and
the Commissioner gave the commitment required to
free up the money."
Cllr. Mac
Pressure was mounting on the EU Fisheries Commission
in recent weeks to ensure the Foyle fishermen
received their compensation.
The campaign gained extra momentum in the media last
week after Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh revealed that
the local fishermen had so far not received a penny.
Meanwhile, Cllr. MacLochlainn said the payments
would be particularly welcome at this time of year.
"We were determined to at least ensure that these
fishermen received their well deserved compensation
before Christmas and we are delighted that this is
now the case." |
