Ritchie puts NI fishing needs to Ministers in Parliament

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has used a Parliamentary Debate on the future of the fishing industry to call for reform of the law on non-EEA labour and to urge the Government to seek improved quotas for Northern Irish fishermen working in the Irish Sea

Speaking to Newry Times, she said, “Each year, there is a debate in Westminster where MPs can outline what their constituency needs at the annual EU Fisheries Council.

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“At this debate, I made clear that, despite the shadow cast by Brexit, the Government use all the scientific evidence it has available to it to get the best quota deal for fishermen in the Irish Sea.”

“But I also once again raised with Ministers the urgent to reform the law on non-EEA migrants who wish to work in our fishing industry.

“The Government’s ban on these migrant workers is doing huge damage to our fishing industry and does nothing to protect the welfare of migrant workers.

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Ritchie added, “Reform is needed to enable legal, regulated seasonal labour for non-EEA labours, like those from the Philippines, before more fishing companies go out of business permanently.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Dec 7 2016. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry