Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My final question in this round is on the weighing systems. In recent times, I have observed the weighing systems at a factory in Killybegs, County Donegal. I want to describe the scenario there. The weighing device the fish go over is state of the art. It is virtually impossible to tamper with it. It is sealed. There is closed-circuit television. The weighing system is monitored round the clock by the SFPA. Therefore, the SFPA has its eyes on it. It is a National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, weighing system. That authority can inspect it at any time. That is the front-of-house oversight of the weighing system. The SFPA has monitors observing the fish and the weighing system such that if you tried to tamper with it, you would be a bloody fool.

At the back end of the operation, the loading of fish into packaging can clearly be seen. They are loaded at a rate of 20 kg per box. There are 60 boxes, which weigh 1.2 tons. There is access to the freezer. At any time, the SFPA officials can gain access to it. Indeed, the industry is very eager to co-operate with the SFPA to ensure full oversight at any time and in any shape or form. If I were in the SFPA and the reputation of our entire industry of fishers and fish producers were being taken apart due to a leaked report that the very industry under attack cannot even read to defend itself, I would seek to tell the story I saw with my own eyes. I do not believe there is any other industry subject to oversight at the level in question but it is okay with that because it wants to keep fishing. Those concerned want to maintain a livelihood for themselves and for the people who work in their factories. Do the delegates believe the level of oversight I have described is one that could be presented to the European Commission?