Ireland’s largest trade union has called for stricter regulation of foreign nationals crewing the Irish fishing fleet, following the loss of an Egyptian fisherman off the Cork coast last week.
“No action has been taken to establish if these seafarers are here legally, if they are properly trained or even properly equipped,” said Siptu’s Ken Fleming, who alleged that many Egyptian fishermen working in Ireland “are here on foot of holiday visas issued by the Italian authorities”.
Fleming added that he highlighted the issue in a letter to Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan last December.
“In the letter I said it is important that action be taken to end the exploitation of migrant workers in the sector…
“The issues involved range from sailing without a skipper, to language difficulties, to inadequate training and lack of certification.
“I have encountered members of five crews who were put off boats simply because they looked for their wages,” he noted.
Fleming said that the UK authorities are “way ahead” of Ireland in relation to this issue, with changes to visa rules there now imposing a blanket ban on transit visas for fishing fleet seafarers due to their abuse in the industry.
The Siptu representative said he has called for a “joint approach by all the state agencies, but the only response so far has been a perfunctory note from Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.”
He concluded: “We have to ask how many migrant workers operating in this difficult and dangerous environment must die before this Government is willing to stand up to the fishing industry and take action.”
