Ministers on officiai visit to Rosaveal "not available" to discuss the crisis in the fish processing industry with local Údaras delegates.

Despite being led to believe that they would be invited to speak to Minister for Agriculture and Marine, Mary Coughlan, when she visits Rosaveal today along with Gaeltacht Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv, a delegation of Connemara members of the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta were informed at the last minute that the two Ministers would "not be available" for discussions regarding the future of the fish processing plant in Rosaveal, Glór Chonamara has learned.

Elected Údarás Board member, Clir. Seosamh Ó Cuaig told Glór Chonamara that, as part of a Border Midlands & Western (BMW) area delegation, he had met with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahem and had informed the Taoiseach of his concerns regarding the future of Rosaveal and the fish processing industry in Jreland as a whole. Mr Ahern seemed quite taken aback. said Ó Cuaig, when informed that a plant which had once provided 300 direct, fuli-time jobs in a traditionally deprived area, had since laid off most of its workforce and could now only offer 30 part-time jobs. Clir. Ó Cuaig went on to inform the Taoiseach that there were plenty of fish to be processed being caught by Irish boats utilising the the Irish quota alloted by the EU, but that these catches were being landed at foreign ports by super trawlers and are providing employment and added value in Scotland, Norway and France. "The Taoiseach seemed to be quite unaware of this situation", Ó Cuaig told Glór Chonamara, and put questions to Minister Ó Cuív who was accompanying the BMW delegates.

Elected Údarás Board Member: Seosamh Ó Cuaig.

"I had a number of conversations with Minister Ó Cuív since then, and was informed that he would be accompanying Minister Mary Coughlan on her visit to Resavent on the 3Oth of November", says Ó Cuaig. "Arrangements were put in place that interested members of the Board of Údarás, Cllrs. Connie Ní Fhátharta, Seán Ó Tuairisc, Séamus Walshe and Chief Executive of Údarás, Pádraig Ó hAoláin and myself would meet with the Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Food, and voice our concerns regarding the fish processing industry.
"Now we have been informed by Runaí an Údarás, Briain Ó Cuív, that this meeting is not to go ahead. We have been given no explanation other than that the Ministers "will flot be available", which is a bit lame since they will actually be in Rosaveal itself," said Cllr Ó Cuaig.
"This seems like a deliberate snub, where the local elected representatives of the people whose jobs have been lost, and those whose future is being threatened are told that a couple of Ministers who are in the area on an official visit will not bother to meet with them and discuss the future of an industry that is absolutely vital to that very area."

Rosaveal Pier development delays?

Councillor Ó Cuaig has told Glór Chonamara that concems are being expressed by interested parties that work on the proposed development and improvemnets on Rosaveal Pier do flot appear to be making "any headway".

"The work on the deepwater pier has not progressed as expected and there seems to be a slowing of monies being released to continue the work", he said. "With ail the talk of a downturn in the economy people have told me they are afraid that Conamara is to be shifted to the back of the queue again, and that the projeet will not be completed in the forseeable future."

Cathal Groonnell, Managing Director of Iasc Mara Teo, and Chairman of Coiste Tacaíocht Calafort Ros a'Mhíl. was also unable to say at the time of going to press whether or not he would be meeting with Minister Coughlan. He expressed the opinion that it "was a bit late in the day" to be confirming whether such a meeting was to happen or not, but he would very much welcome the opportunity to express the importance and urgency of the Coiste's concerns to the Minister. "If she comes this far and fails to meet with the people on the ground who have first hand knowledge of the situation and the problems facing the area and its industry, then one would be forced to ask what was the purpose of her visit in the first place", he told Glór Chonamara.

Mr. Groonneil says that it is absolutely vital that NDP money, which has been allocated for fishery related projects, should be sanctioned immediately for the development of the deepwater harbour. The new fleet of trawlers, he pointed out, mostly have a draught of four and a half metres, whereas the existing harbour has a draught of three and a half metres. The Pier in Rosaveal is not large enough with a ban on berthing vessels larger than 100 feet that could load and off-load cargos in Rosaveal, rather than having it trucked to and from Dublin Port or Killybegs, as happens at present.
"There is a decline in fishing and fishing related activity here at the moment, and there is a great need for the Government to do something. There has been a certain amount of dredging done to accommodate the ferries but the main work on the deepwater harbour seems as far away as ever. We are ail very disappointed by the lack of any action on the ground.
"The money has been sanctioned by the National Development Plan: what is needed is political will and action at a local level to have it allocated to Rosaveal. The harbour here is ideally suited for such development, with natural shelter and deep warer channels available. It would be great to see some meaningful start being made", he said.

Glór Chonamara 30/11/2007