The Government's €50 million harbour development in Killybegs, Co Donegal, could become a "white elephant" if a row about landing restrictions is not resolved, fishing industry representatives have warned.
The new project was hailed by the Minister for the Marine, Mr Dermot Ahern, yesterday as the biggest investment in a fishery harbour development since the foundation of the State. Killybegs is now "world class" and should be able to attract "new business" relating to offshore exploration, particularly if the Corrib gas field comes on stream, the Minister said.
Moves are already being made to establish an oil supply facility at the harbour,which should boost business in the north-west, the Minister said, and a significant portion of the State's 28-acre land bank may be used to encourage investment.
However, the €50 million investment is "closed to all business at midnight", when it should be a 24-hour port, Mr Seán O'Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (KFO), and Mr Lorcan Ó Cinnéide, chief executive of the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation, said. New restricted landing times introduced by the Minister have already caused anger at the port, as reflected in a recent day of protest.
The Minister has denied it is an industrial relations issue, and said it is in line with EU directives. However, the Fianna Fáil European election candidate in the north-west, Dr Jim McDaid, disputed this yesterday and appealed to the Minister to ensure the situation is resolved to ensure quality and freshness of fish landings and access to markets.
Speaking to The Irish Times after the opening, the Minister said that negotiations were taking place and he hoped to have the issue resolved by September when the mackerel season resumes."I can assure you that we are doing our level best to ensure that a facility like this will be used to the nth degree, but obviously we have to work within the restrictions that we have."
Before unveiling the plaque to mark the harbour opening, the Minister paid tribute to the architects and engineers of the new harbour, and to Mr Joey Murrin, former chief executive of the KFO, for his vision in ensuring that a plan drawn up 10 years ago was delivered upon.
The new fishery harbour extension includes 300 metres of quay space for vessels with a 12-metre draught - which could attract cruise liners to the area. Another 150 metres of quay can berth vessels drawing up to nine metres.
Also attending the opening yesterday were the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, and the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher. Mr Kevin McHugh, owner of the 144-metre super-trawler, Atlantic Dawn, was among the many skippers and vessel owners present.
