Mr. Stiofán Ó Cúláin:

Mar fhreagra don Teachta Ó Cuív, labhair sé faoi phobail beaga gan pobal gan teanga. Aontaím 100% leis an méid a dúirt sé. Sin an bun prionsabal ar bunaíodh an údarás an céad lá agus oibríonn muid ar an phrionsabal sin i gcónaí. Luaigh an Teachta go bhfuil oileáin beaga, cosúil le oileáin beaga cois chósta, amach ó chósta Árainn Mhór i ngreim ag reachtaíocht náisiúnta agus nach bhfuil sin feiliúnach do phobail beaga cois chósta. Aontaímid le sin freisin. Dá mbeadh aon bhealach thart ar sin, ghlacfadh muid é.

Maidir le tairgíocht sliogéisc, bhí an uain céanna sin 20 bliain ó shin i gCiarraí thiar agus i nDún na nGall agus i nGaillimh. Aontaímid go bhfuil deiseanna ansin. Ó thaobh fuinneamh inathnuaite.

There are three potential sites at the moment, including one off Belmullet and one in Galway Bay, off Spiddal, where we have, with our colleagues in the Marine Institute, tracked the whole bays under the smart-bay programme. There are also possibilities off Achill and the Clare coast. We are in constant contact with the people who are involved in these projects. ESBI's WestWave project off Achill is one.

To reply to Deputy Ferris, small vessels are most important, including to us. They are often the only vessels people in small coastal communities have. We support fisheries, including shellfish fisheries - I am aware of the one near Tralee - and developed some in Waterford and Donegal in the 1980s which are still in existence. In respect of the two projects Deputy Ferris mentioned, we agree with local consultation 100%. It is in my submission that there is no possibility of properly implementing any project without local consent. Fish labelling and marketing to increase value are things to which we should all aspire.
Maidir le feamainn, b'fhéidir go ndéarfaidh an tUasal Mac Eochaidh rud beag faoi sin.