The plight of some sixty-odd Connemara fishermen, wno had allocaled grants snatched from them at the last moment earlier this year will  be discussed by a countrywide delegation of Údarás na Gaeltachta board members when they meet with the Minister for Marine.

The cross-party delegation   will be led by elected Board and Council lndependent election candidate, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, who will be accompanied by outgoing Chairman of Donegal Co. Co., Daithi Alcorn, FF. and Waterford Údarás member, Fiachra Ó Céilleachair, Lab.

The controversy arose in January of this year when sixty or so inshore fishermen who had been allocated grants in order to work Connemara coast were suddenly informed that an  EU directive had identified them as being a threat to European fish stocks.

The grants, to cover the cost of acquiring a sea-worthy currach, engine and equipment to assist raising lobster pots, were immediately withheld by Dept of Marine officials who argued that they had no choice in the matter.

The decision led to a large number of fishermen attempting to picket a gathering of EU Social Affairs last January during which one fisherman was arrested.

The plight of the fishermen arose recently at a meeting of Bord lascaigh Mhara officials and those present agreed to send a written protest to the Department containing recomendations to the Minister.

However Seosamh Ó Cuaig, who has recently thrown his hat into the electoral ring, felt this was not enough and suggested that a delegation from Údrás, representing the fishermen, should seek to lobby The Minister, Mr. Dermot Ahern,

This was agreed upon by all present.

"It was obvious that all the members at that meeting felt very strongly that these fishermen had been very hard done by",

Ó Cuaig told Glór Chonamara. "Sixty or more men in Connemara alone have had the means of making a livlihood, of providing for their famiiies, snatched away from them by some illogical European Union ruling. It is a decision that defies rational thinking - it makes no sense whatsoever.

"I raised the matter with the Minister while he was on a visit to Ros a'Mhíl recently, and he agreed there was a

problem. 'There is a problem there, and we must look at it', he told me, and said his officials were discussing the matter. I accept there are elections in ther off, but I hope this is more than just an election

promise.

"The men concerned had their funding allocated, and then taken away again without any notice whatsoever being given. This goes against all sense of what is right and what is wrong. "

The delegation will visit the Depaertment of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on June17th.

Ó Cuaig says that there is  cross-party support among  the fishermen and that there  will be a scheme of some  sort hammered out, but that it is essential that the best possible deal is brokered  on behalf of the fishermen

Breis Nuachta