Richard Boyd Barrett: AirGrid Injunction Against Dublin Fishers
Richard Boyd Barrett accuses AirGrid of seeking injunctions against fishers in Dublin Bay and warns that the benefits of offshore wind are being handed to private, mostly foreign, companies. He urges the government to intervene, citing displacement of fishers and possible breaches of EU law.
Richard Boyd Barrett tells colleagues that he has correspondence from Dublin Bay fishers who have been subject to an injunction by AirGrid during offshore wind surveys. He argues that a MARA licence committed not to interfere with fishers, yet fishers are being moved and sued.
Boyd Barrett highlights the legal risk, saying displacement of one industry by another can contravene EU law. He frames the injunctions and private contracts for offshore wind as a regulatory failure that needs immediate clarification from the Minister and agencies.
The deputy points to the direct impact on fishers in Dublin Bay and the broader risk to livelihoods if surveyors and private developers displace traditional fishing activity. He calls this a symptom of broader policy that gives too much benefit to private, foreign companies.
Boyd Barrett asks the government to press AirGrid to withdraw actions that impede fishers and to ensure offshore wind development respects licences, local communities and European legal protections.
Immediate allegation
Richard Boyd Barrett tells colleagues that he has correspondence from Dublin Bay fishers who have been subject to an injunction by AirGrid during offshore wind surveys. He argues that a MARA licence committed not to interfere with fishers, yet fishers are being moved and sued.
Legal and regulatory concerns
Boyd Barrett highlights the legal risk, saying displacement of one industry by another can contravene EU law. He frames the injunctions and private contracts for offshore wind as a regulatory failure that needs immediate clarification from the Minister and agencies.
Impact on coastal communities
The deputy points to the direct impact on fishers in Dublin Bay and the broader risk to livelihoods if surveyors and private developers displace traditional fishing activity. He calls this a symptom of broader policy that gives too much benefit to private, foreign companies.
Request to government
Boyd Barrett asks the government to press AirGrid to withdraw actions that impede fishers and to ensure offshore wind development respects licences, local communities and European legal protections.
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Transcript
I think it's an absolute disgrace that much of the benefits of offshore wind in this country are going to be given away to private for-profit companies, mostly from other countries. Another problem that flows from that policy that you've pursued in terms of this is the displacement of fishers. Just to let you know that I've got correspondence today from fishers in Dublin Bay who have now had an injunction taken out against them by AirGrid, who are doing surveys for the offshore wind, of course for a private company who will benefit from it, have taken an injunction out on them. Even though the MARA licence they were granted said they weren't to interfere with fishers or their gear, they're now taking an injunction out against Dublin fishers who fish in Dublin Bay saying that their gear is in the way and they have to get their gear out of the way. It's even against EU law to displace one industry with another and I think you should get on to AirGrid and tell them to leave the fishers in Dublin Bay alone. Deputy Boyd Barrett, there have been engagements with fishers and the representative organisations and I'm not aware of the specifics that you've referenced but I'd check out the background to it. Thank you.