Tags: Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Cork, Ireland, Michael McCarthy, politics, Social Justice Ireland

CORK Labour Party Senator Michael McCarthy has said that support for the abolition of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) from Social Justice Ireland (SJI) is misguided.

Speaking on the Order of Business in the Seanad, Senator McCarthy said, “At this time of the year, many organisations are submitting pre-budget documents and Social Justice Ireland is no exception.

“I welcome the involvement of groups like SJI in the budgetary process, and Fr Sean Healy is a highly respected figure, but I would have to say that on one crucial issue at least, he has got it badly wrong.

“The report of an Bord Snip proposed the abolition of Bord Iascaigh Mhara and in their own pre-budget submission, SJI are giving that proposal their full support. I find their position on this puzzling to say the least.

“It was my understanding that the SJI sees its function as looking out for the poor and to act as advocate for those who may not be in a position to do so themselves, yet they seem to have ignored the fact that there are many poor and marginalised people living in coastal communities who depend on marine activity and on the efforts of BIM to promote Irish seafood as an international quality brand.

“Abolishing BIM would cause serious damage to local economies in rural coastal areas and to the least well-off members of communities there.

“I would take serious issue with SJI on this matter, and I can assure people in coastal communities that I will fight tooth and nail against any proposals, from whatever quarter, to scrap BIM,” he said.