Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Most of the points I intended to raise have been already touched on by colleagues. Regarding the pots replacement scheme, could that scheme have gone further under the previous rules? Did the Government have scope, for example, to cover loss of earnings, damage to vessels and so on? Or is that what is envisaged under the new guidelines such that, if we had a similar occurrence this winter, a scheme could be put in place which would consider those elements?

A number of fishermen informed us that the replacement of pots was only one element of the support they required.

One of the sub-committees has been studying the potential for multitrophic aquaculture development, which involves shellfish, seaweed and fish farms working in tandem in an integrated manner. We have been told that while the technology required to achieve this type of set-up is still a little way off, it is a possibility. A pilot study on the issue has been mooted. How would multitrophic aquaculture sit within the draft guidelines, which appear to cover different types of investment from different areas?

There is a significant backlog in aquaculture license applications because the bays are still being surveyed. Notwithstanding the various regulations, resolving this backlog will be necessary before much of the potential investment in these areas can proceed. How do these two competing forces, which are stifling the development of the industry, sit together?