Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I have a certain sympathy with their position in respect of the availability of fish and it is something that small processors in County Donegal have difficulty with as well, although that would seem to be lost in some of the cases that are made, which is that basically Killybegs is hoovering up everything.

I have a question on whether the fish producers and exporters association would be supportive of the Iasc Mara Teoranta's proposal and the legality of it.

I am not sure but I would imagine that only those boats that have licences to catch mackerel can actually receive the quota. I do not know how factories could be given a licence to catch or whether or not the Government could change the process to licence factories to allow them to receive a quota. I understand fully what the witnesses are saying about Iasc Mara Teoranta's factories managing to get product to process and the knock-on effect that has on jobs but if this measure was to be implemented then the converse would have the same effect. Killybegs, and the work in the factories, has been decimated over the years through the modernisation programme within the factories. The working season has collapsed for most working people in Killybegs who depend on the factories for a livelihood. This proposal would have a further impact on those people and this is not reflected in the submission. This should be taken into account. I do not know what the solution to that could be. The Department says that it is progress but I do not know - it depends on one's definition of progress.

I will now turn to the figures in the presentation. The witnesses have said that the four factories process 3,000 tonnes and that the current regime ensures that they do not have access to purchase 90% of the fish. By that token, does this mean the company has access to purchase 10%? This would be 8,500 tonnes, which would actually meet the targets the witness have referenced in their proposal.