Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister and his officials for appearing before the joint committee. Based on the information provided by the fleet sub-segmentation lobby group, I get a sense that the Minister has not set out his position on this matter in any great detail. The group made a highly compelling case and I concur with all of the points made by Deputy Ó Cuív in this regard. The pelagic polyvalent fishing sector appears to be on its knees. It strikes me that the issue is more closely related to health and safety than the viability of this segment of the fishing industry. I understand that many of the vessels in question are not covered by the producer organisations through which the Minister suggests they should make representations. A large section of the fleet is not represented by these organisations.

On the specific recommendations, the fleet sub-segmentation lobby group has indicated that in the event that the Minister does not adopt the policy changes it proposes, the Irish fleet would continue to fall behind other fleets in the European Union, the market value of Irish catch would continue to decline owing to fleet inadequacies, Ireland would lose its competitive position on the export market and the whitefish sector would continue to decline and eventually become unviable. It calls for the introduction of a decommissioning scheme to help the whitefish sector, which would cost the Government and the European Union. I trust the Minister and his officials are party to the issues raised by the group. Where does the Minister stand on the specific points the group has raised and the requests it has made? While I understand the Minister's point that a change in policy would require consultation with all relevant stakeholders, will he indicate whether he agrees or disagrees with the specific recommendations made by the group?

It strikes me that the system employed here is very rigid and cumbersome and more complicated than similar systems in other EU states. It may well have worked for Ireland up to now, but it is surely time to review the policy with a view to maintaining the livelihood of the fishermen in the polyvalent sector.