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

I thank Mr. Moran for his presentation.

On the Common Fisheries Policy and the conclusion of the new policy, individual transferable quotas are part of the policy at a European level with individual countries having at this stage the right to opt out. If Ireland decided to opt in, is that an option? What would it require for that to happen?

As I understand it, all that is required is that a Minister decide we are opting in. Is that the case?

What is the input of the Department on Ireland's stance on the EU–US free trade agreement negotiations? A controversial element of the agreement concerns investor-state dispute-resolution processes and it could have implications for Irish agriculture. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is leading on this but I am wondering about the consultation in which the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is engaged. Have the witnesses any views on this?