Mr. Michael Keatinge:

Yes, they can do so. To show the contrast in our thinking, we would see the provision of training for the seafood sector - for example, access to funds for safety training, upskilling and certificates for officers on fishing boats - as a national matter, not a local one. In other words, the FLAG in Donegal may decide it does not want to prioritise training, whereas the FLAG in Kerry does. Why should a fisherman in one county not be able to avail of the same training opportunity as another? We have said therefore that we will handle that programme nationally.