Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know there are many personal stories and family-based stories there. Some of it was quite balanced, including the opening comments and the different aspects of work involved, and different concerns the witnesses have had. I appreciate Mr. Boyle's clarification with regard to his statement. I know he gave his reason why. He did not know he was going to be called, but we had decided a while ago that we would take both parties, but we have to take them one at a time, as the Chair has explained, so I suppose that can be a misunderstanding. I appreciate his clarification.

I have a couple of minor questions. I am a landlubber from Mullingar and would not be as au faitwith the issues as my friends from Limerick and other places closer to the sea. We have heard from fish producers' organisations but are there other large organisations which could not come today, which would not come or which were not invited? Do the witnesses represent the main body of fishermen?

Is it not possible to recruit other people from within the EU, as has always been the case with farm workers? The witnesses will probably say it is not, which is why they use the scheme. There are similarities with farming as workers also work different hours and we have heard from the equine industry in that regard recently. There was an influx of people from Poland to work in agriculture so I am curious as to why that has not been the case in fishing.