Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presentation to the committee. My question relates to the producer organisations.

The Minister indicated in his presentation that he wants to engage with the producer organisations. He also said that he would consider any change in policy following public consultation with stakeholders. I take it he is not ruling out accepting submissions from or engaging with small vessel owners that are not tied to the larger producer organisations.

There is a strong case to be made around the safety aspect of sub-segmentation as against segmentation. A number of weeks ago we heard a presentation on this issue in Buswell's Hotel during which concern was expressed by those giving the presentation about the safety aspect of this. It was on this basis that they put forward the argument regarding the need for extra capacity from another sector - in other words, the need for people who have been involved in fishing all their lives and want to get out of it being able to trade the capacity in their vessels. I would be very supportive of that proposal, particularly in the context of safety. Deputy Ó Cuív referred earlier to the incident in Scotland, which the people concerned were very lucky to survive. I would welcome the Minister's response on those issues.