Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Delaney and Dr. Hynes for their presentations. The work this committee is attempting to do is to try to see if it can formulate or propose a policy response that will protect rural coastal communities and communities dependent on inshore fishing or which have traditionally been dependent on inshore fishing for their livelihoods and help sustain those communities. The socioeconomic aspect of the impact of the current situation on communities is very important. We must look at how these traditional communities can be assisted and enabled to maintain their way of life and adapt to the changes being forced upon them. We hope to have a report at the end of this process that will recommend a policy response. We want to look at the existing CFP and see how it can be adapted to an Irish perspective to help sustain these communities.

Dr. Delaney identified five key critical issues in her presentation and my question centres on her work with Arranmore fishermen and her knowledge of the Donegal communities, but I accept there may be data gaps and that she may not have the full information required to make a proper adjudication.

How would the deputation evaluate the coastal and island communities based on their knowledge to date of these five critical issues and the threats that exist for them? How should the policy response be balanced between the potential for alternatives and the attempt to maintain the traditional economic activity of these communities? How should we attempt to try to match that?

From a European perspective does the deputation believe the Common Fisheries Policy is an attempt to manage the sustainable exploitation of our fishing stock? The reform is at the early stages. Given the work of the deputation in evaluating the impact on coastal communities, how do they believe the Common Fisheries Policy stacks up? Is it developed enough to take account of the impacts on small and coastal communities as well as the decisions that are being made at a wider European Level?

Representatives from Inland Fisheries Ireland were here some weeks ago. During their presentation on salmon stock and the ban on drift-net salmon fishing they referred to the Atlantic intergovernmental body that considers salmon fishing and stocks and how it is now beginning to consider the social impacts of the decisions that are being made. Does the deputation have any information on how developed this is or how it is moving along? Is it something we should consider and examine in terms of the social impacts of the decisions that are being made?

My next question is for Dr. Hynes. Dr. Delaney remarked that there is a lack of data to evaluate decisions. The presentation strengthens that view in that reference was made to the difficulty in compiling data and gathering information. I may not have looked into the position of coastal counties and economies in sufficient detail but the approach seems to be somewhat skewed by Dublin, Cork and major urban centres. Is that having an impact? Is this something that should be considered? Should we examine rural communities more? The coastal electoral divisions still take in parts of large urban centres and other economic activity might mask the impact or threats to rural, coastal communities.