Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Murphy got his message across loud and clear.

As I said at the outset, we are restricted by Covid-19. I will close this session. On behalf of the committee, I thank the representatives of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation and the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation for engaging with us on this important issue. On behalf of the committee, I wish to say that our door is open to the fisheries industry for those involved to make their points to us.

We had the Minister before the committee earlier this morning. I am from an inland county but it is clear that the issues facing the fisheries industry are grave indeed. In his final contribution, Mr. Murphy referred to 25% of the fish being lost. That will have a major economic effect on the whole fisheries industry. We have to get a resolution that will allow our boats to stay in Irish waters and allow our fishermen and their families to earn a living.

My thanks to the witnesses for their contributions. The door of this committee is open to the fisheries industry to come here. The Minister announced that he is setting up a task force. The representatives of the organisations should not hesitate to contact us if they think there is any issue we should be focusing on for them. I know the members of the committee will keep fisheries to the forefront of our agenda.