Mr. Jason Whooley:

Yes it is, but it is the specifics of what we discuss when we speak about niche markets.

The reduction in staff has been very difficult. Through early retirement and the loss of contract staff we lost top-class, highly qualified and highly experienced individuals and it has been a challenge for the organisation and for the management team to try to cope with this. We have tried to reorganise and have merged divisions. We have cut many of our costs and refocused or dropped services and taken on new ones with a view to addressing where the industry needs to go and also its demand for our services.

It has been a challenge. It continues to be a challenge but that is the nature of our economy now and public service management is at that juncture.

The Chairman wanted to know the total allowable catch for boarfish. The TAC is scientifically based. On an annual basis, similar to every other species, it will be subjected to scientific assessment. The TAC and our relative share of it will rise or fall according to the scientific advice. He is right. We do not want the species to be around for just 12 months or two years before disappearing. Sustainability is in the industry's interest and we promote it so that we have a long term future.

Senator Ó Domhnaill asked a question on sea lice, Deputy Martin Ferris asked for a update on farmed salmon, Senator Susan O'Keeffe wanted to know if there were more salmon locations and about the investors, and she also had a question on the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and a question on seaweed harvesting. I shall pass these questions, specifically those on salmon, to my colleague, Mr. Donal Maguire.