Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If Deputy Ó Cuív is saying the reason no PO is supporting this is that they are all internally conflicted, that is the point I am making. There is more than one view here. The Deputy is only representing one view, which I find extraordinary. On the actual views within POs across the country which have concerns in relation to this and which will have some members that support it, no one seems to be willing to discuss others that may have concerns. It is as if I am being told "This is obvious thing to do, why do you not just get on with it?". Clearly, that is not the case. If it were, we would have at least one of the three POs supporting it. While I am saying we will look at this, there is also an onus on the group of boats looking to have it considered to create a bit more consensus within the industry that this is something worth looking at. That is all I am saying. It is not a pre-condition or anything like it. It is just to say that if they have a proposal that makes sense, let us get a bit more consensus on it. Otherwise, I am forcing the issue on all of the POs that are there to represent their members in consultation with me. I would be forcing the issue whereas this is a proposal that is coming from the industry. There is at least some onus on the industry not simply to lobby and put pressure on me but to get some consensus on the issues that should be considered in the sector that really matters here; the fishing sector. By all means, we will then look at that and get people's feedback. It is not too big an ask.

I apologise to Senator Comiskey for failing to respond to him earlier. If somebody has a leisure craft and is looking to get into commercial fishing, he or she will have to get some quota. He or she will need to take that step from being a leisure craft to a commercial fishing craft.

Obviously to do that involves buying into the system. We can give the Senator the details on how somebody can make that transition.