FRANK FAHEY WELCOMES REPORT ON LOST AT SEA SCHEME

Date Published: 14-Dec-2009

Galway West TD Frank Fahey is welcoming the publication by the Ombudsman of a special report into the controversial Lost at Sea Scheme.Emily O'Reilly published the report after the Department of Agriculture rejected her recommendations in relation to the scheme. It's only the second time in the 25 year history of the Ombudsman's office that a Government Department has rejected a recommendation. Deputy Fahey was the then Minister for Marine and Natural Resources who set up the scheme in late 2000 to help those who had lost fishing vessels in the 1980s to carry on a family tradition.It offered compensation in the form of tonnage quotas to families. The Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly recommended the Department should pay a quarter of a million euro compensation to the Byrne family from Donegal. Francis Byrne and his 16 year old son drowned with three others on board the MFV Skifjord which sank off Donegal in 1981. However his family only applied to the scheme after the closing date for applications. Deputy Fahey told Galway Bay FM News he's happy today's report as it clarifies his handling of the scheme.