Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas le BIM faoin cur i láthair. I will not go over ground that has been covered, but I echo the sentiments expressed. I take it that none of the funding available can be used to help those still engaged in fishing in dealing with issues such as safety and upgrading. We recently had a delegation in Brussels who talked about the way the European Fisheries Fund, EFF, would be used. I wonder, if it cannot be done under the FLAGs measure, whether BIM is looking at applications under the EFF to allow minor upgrades and safety equipment to be bought for smaller fishing boats. This has been brought up with us as a serious issue. The fishermen involved are finding it difficult to maintain safety standards without the availability of funding.

I am interested in what BIM has stated about boats being used for multiple purposes. It has been said somebody could go lobster fishing in the morning and engage in sea angling in the afternoon. What can be done to promote this option even more? We need to look at how fishermen can look at different streams of income under the FLAGs.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the following issue - I am sure Mr. Maguire expected it to come up - given that there is a FLAG in Galway Bay where there is huge controversy around the fish farm project being developed there.

Is a fisheries local action group a forum in which potential projects such as this, about which there is huge controversy and about which many interests are unhappy, could be discussed, with recommendations being made to the Department, BIM and so on on this type of policy? It is a policy issue BIM is bringing forward under the aegis of the Department. From what I can see, most of the stakeholders in the bay are unhappy with the project. Is the fisheries local action group a good forum in which policy developments on the type of fish farm being promoted in Galway Bay could be discussed, including the need for new seafood markets and the detrimental impact it would have on other industries in the area? There are serious issues around this matter from which, perhaps, the delegates might be able to tell us at this stage they are pulling back, as was envisaged.

Earlier a link was drawn between the FLAGs and the RIS, which I found interesting. I presume the RIS would also take into consideration the views of the inshore angling community, one of the greatest advocates in opposing the development of the proposed aquaculture projects. How will that engagement work in order that, irrespective of the particular project I mentioned, other projects that might be planned down the line could be discussed at a pre-emptive stage in order that there would not be a huge community battle involving all of the different interests?