Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is an argument to be made around that. I absolutely accept that. We could go down that track in the context of this Bill but with due respect I do not think it is an appropriate track to go down. I absolutely agree with the point but in the context of this Bill, what we need to do is get this over the line, put something in place that deals with the disadvantage that island fishermen have suffered for too long, and find a piece of quota, tiny in comparison with the overall figure, which will work for them under their circumstances. I do believe it is something the committee needs to examine at a later stage, in the wider context of the EU's authority over our national waters and the waters that lie inside the baseline. We are talking about the waters that lie outside the baseline and the six-mile zone, by and large. If we get into something very technical around that, we could go down a cul-de-sac that could delay the speedy and proper process of this Bill. With due respect, while I absolutely understand and appreciate the point the witness makes, I do not think it is a place we can go at this point in time. I absolutely understand that the witness is supporting the Bill and its concept, and we appreciate that. I will leave it at that.