Mr. Paul Mullins:

I thank the joint committee for giving us this opportunity to appear before it. We sent in our written submission which, I understand, we are not to repeat. I will, therefore, make some additional comments.
In October 1999 the Irish Seaweed Forum was established by the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. In the seven months to May 2000 the forum, consisting of 17 individuals drawn from industry, academia and Government institutions, met on six occasions to consider its brief, which was to evaluate the current state of the seaweed industry, consult widely, investigate the potential of the industry and examine the barriers to development. The final report which was published with 12 recommendations clearly identified research and development as the chief priority.
The forum specifically addressed the issue of harvesting and concluded:

For a long time it has been considered that the legal status of harvesting ... was a serious problem for the development of the industry. Through consultation with the Office of the Attorney General it has been found that legislation regarding this issue is much clearer than was previously perceived and is no longer thought to be a serious barrier to development.

In the more recent past a number of companies, including Brandon Products Limited, have made serious efforts to invest in research and development and seen their businesses grow as a result. The State, through Enterprise Ireland, with the European Union, through various initiatives, including the FP7 framework, has assisted this research and development effort.
The science behind the products being produced by companies in the sector has been the primary driver of growth. In the case of Brandon Products Limited, we have trebled our sales in the past six years by focusing on improving our scientific understanding of how seaweed works and how to translate this into higher performance products. As we continue to invest in research into the potential of seaweed, we increase the valued added. When taken in conjunction with other demand-related factors, the interest in the seaweed resource faces levels of demand not previously seen. The harvesting process which, to date, has been primarily undertaken by individuals will come under increasing pressure and there is a risk of damage to the resource by short-sighted harvesting malpractice. To ensure this risk does not manifest, the need to regulate the sector for harvesting is important. Harvesting has been self-regulated for generations and in the past 70 years, in particular, there has been an adequate resource to meet the various demands. Unfortunately, for many of these years the resource has simply been harvested and dried, with the main added value being generated by processors and users outside the State. Since 2000 when the forum reported, the proportion of the resource being processed with additional economic benefit to the economy has grown steadily, mainly due to the research and development effort mentioned.
It is clear that the growth of the sector is research and development dependent. Whereas I agree with the potential Údarás na Gaeltachta sees in the sector, as reported in the January 2014 Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries report, I disagree with its assertion that regulation of harvesting is the key. To me, it is clearly research and development. Harvesting needs regulation to ensure the increased demand is not met by reckless harvesting, but harvesting is not the obstacle to development. In fact, restricting access to the resource and allowing any commercial entity to exert significant control over the resource could become the single biggest obstacle to the development of the sector.
Looking at how the sector is managed and developed in other jurisdictions is always a good starting point. It is not to slavishly follow one model but to truly understand the good and bad points of each and pick the best to make Ireland the role model for others to follow. Let us learn from the mistakes of others, not simply repeat them. To develop a strong sector, we need several strong companies. Imagine what would have happened in the dairy sector if we had started out with only one dominant company that controlled the grasslands and thereby stifled competition. Consolidation may well happen in time when the better companies emerge, but the starting point must be having several strong companies, ideally with different strategies. To realise the potential of the sector, we must continue to encourage research and development and value-added processing within Ireland. To protect the sector and the resource, we need to regulate and lay down guidance on best practice on its management and use.
In the committee's consideration of these issue it should bear in mind the big picture of what we want to achieve and ensure we give equal status to all of the factors that can impact on the establishment, growth and sustainability of this emerging sector. My company's submission contains a number of specific recommendations that it believes would balance the competing needs and develop a world-class sector that would work for all.