Mr. John Connaughton:

I thank the Chairman, Deputies and Senators. BIM welcomes the opportunity to meet the joint committee this afternoon to assure members that BIM is actively re-engaged with QQI on a new quality assurance system that will cater for the provision of seafood industry training. BIM's skills strategy for 2018 to 2020 will deliver a structured career path through the provision of lifelong, accredited learning to create a professional, educated talent pool for the sector. The investment in training, with support from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund, EMFF, will create an increasingly skilled and more professional workforce that creates value. BIM promotes best practice regarding safety and working conditions and protects the Irish seafood sector's reputation through training, to deliver high standards of seafood safety management. BIM provides targeted training, access and funding where needed to drive skills development at all levels in the sector. The agency provides business mentoring and leadership to the sector where needed to drive skills development at all levels in the sector. Skills training for the industry will equip fishers, fish farmers and seafood processors to take advantage of market opportunities and create value.

BIM has developed and delivered seafood industry training programmes for more than 40 years and is a QQI recognised provider, initially agreeing its quality assurance with FETAC in 2006. The training programmes are aimed specifically at those working in the seafood industry, with specialised training offered to the sea-fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors. Training is available from ab initioQQI level 3 on the framework to higher diploma at QQI level 8. Modern facilities in the National Fisheries College of Ireland, in Greencastle and Castletownbere, are supported by mobile coastal training units around the coast. Work practice and supervised experience on training vessels, fish farms and fish factories are augmented through innovation in seafood business development at the BIM seafood innovation hub in Clonakilty, County Cork. All BIM training is monitored through the administrative hub and quality oversight function based in BIM headquarters in Dún Laoghaire.

I thank the members of the joint committee for updating us on the passage of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill currently before the Dáil. I also thank the Chair and members for inviting BIM to consider updating, amending or withdrawing its submission made in October 2018 based on the latest text of the Bill. Having examined the latest version of the Bill as passed by Seanad Éireann, there is no substantive reason we would alter our submission, which we restricted to three specific sections of the Bill. We are happy to leave it stand. We will not, therefore, be making an updated or amended submission. I thank members for their time.