Government refusals to compensate family in Lost at Sea controversy a dangerous development

RTE reports that the minster now responsible for fisheries Tony Killeen has said the government should not compensate a Donegal family disadvantaged as a result of a controversial fishing scheme introduced nine years ago. However this pits the Government directly against the Ombudsman and could spark a crisis of confidence in the independence of Ms O'Reilly's office.
The ‘Lost at Sea’ scheme was introduced by the former Minister Frank Fahey when he was Marine Minister in 2001. It was designed to compensate fishermen whose boats had sunk by giving them replacement fishing quotas.

 

Six people were awarded replacement quotas under the scheme, two of these were from Mr Fahey’s constituency, and they received almost three quarters of all the replacement quotas given out.
The scheme was investigated by Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, who uncovered serious flaws in the way it was run. Before Christmas she recommended a Donegal family refused under the scheme be compensated.
Mr Fahey today again defended his role in the scheme.
(originally posted at tomfelle.com)