Allister answers Nicholson

10 December 2005

“Jim Nicholson says he is opposed to “all draconian measures against
fishermen and that includes our UK fishermen”.  That is good, but the fact
remains that he choose to back the campaign by the Republic’s fishermen to
avoid the punitive measures to which our fishermen are already subject,
thereby maintaining for themselves a competitive advantage over Northern
Ireland fishermen in the Irish Sea,  It is that which appals me.

The focus of my criticism was not on the fact that de Brun was a fellow
signatory of his plea to keep advantage with the Republic’s fishermen – I
expected nothing better of her. Thus, it is puerile to try and divert
attention from his folly by saying Sinn Fein have signed a motion on some
unspecified subject which I also signed.  I have no control over what
motions Sinn Fein MEPs sign, but Jim Nicholson had control over whether to
sign the letter of campaign on behalf of the Republic’s fishermen.”

Fishing