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Donegal North East
general election candidate, Cllr Pádraig Mac
Lochlainn, has praised Sinn Féin and DUP ministers
in the new Assembly for their 'urgent response' to
the needs of Foyle driftnet fishermen.
Cllr. MacLochlainn revealed that the intervention of
Sinn Féin's new Agriculture Minister, Michelle
Gildernew and the DUP's new Finance Minister, Peter
Robinson, has ensured that long-delayed compensation
payouts are now in progress.
"The plight of the driftnet fishermen throughout
Donegal has been constantly at the forefront of Sinn
Féin's countywide campaigns over recent years.
"Here in the Foyle region, I have been especially
focused on the treatment of the local fishing
community," said Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"This was something I personally raised with my
colleague, Michelle Gildernew MP, during recent
weeks when she was effectively acting as the
Agriculture Minister-in-waiting, working with her
officials from the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development (DARD).
Minister Gildernew met Foyle fishermen and the
Loughs Agency at the latter's offices in Derry City
on May 1.
"She undertook to use her Departmental influence to
get the North's Department of Finance and Personnel
(DFP) to speed up the processing of compensation
payouts, before the May 4 deadline," Cllr.
MacLochlainn explained.
"This had been the most urgent request made by the
fishermen. Without this prompt intervention another
salmon breeding season would have been missed and
the Foyle fishermen would have been left with an
uncertain future for another year.
"Sinn Féin has been lobbying the Loughs Agency and
has met with the fishermen on a number of occasions
to take full account of their needs on this issue.
"Paramount among the requests of the Foyle fishermen
was a firm indication of the compensation which
would be available. I also understand the release of
the reduced number of licences, should be
administered shortly."
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