Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have some questions for the Minister on the control plan and I would like to ask a few supplementary questions after that. I will keep it tight because I see that other members have indicated also.

Regarding the derogation of the control plan, Deputy Mac Lochlainn has already outlined how the measures that are being used in processing plants at the moment are extremely accurate, traceable and transparent, and use state-of-the-art technology. Deputy Kehoe alluded to the fact that the fishing sector and fishing community are up in arms. There is a considerable level of anger because of a series of events, including the revocation of the control plan.

The Minister has explained that he cannot intervene to reintroduce a control plan or to override the decision of the Commission on the revocation of the control plan. He has explained that the Bill does not allow him to do that. What can he do? Earlier this week representatives of the SFPA informed the committee that it would be a minimum of two months before it could introduce a new control plan. Surely the Department has a role to intervene. At the moment the piers do not have the infrastructure to weigh product. The fishing sector has been left at a significant disadvantage and in an incredibly difficult position because that infrastructure is not in place. Surely there is a role for the Department to step in and help them to provide this infrastructure in the interim. Two months is a long time for a business.

The SFPA suggested that the reintroduction of the control plan would be for the white fish sector and the shellfish sector only. What about the pelagic sector? There is talk of the introduction of weighbridges at piers. That will lead to considerable difficulty because if weighbridges are to be used and fish are being weighed on the back of a truck water needs to be taken into account. Deputy Mac Lochlainn talked about the accuracy of in-plant weighing. Using weighbridges for trucks where water, ice and other factors are involved, takes away from the accuracy that the Commission and the SFPA are supposed to be seeking. Surely the Minister has a role if the industry is informing him that weighbridges and in-truck weighing on these weighbridges will not work, surely there is scope for maybe not intervention but to actually outline the thoughts and feelings of the sector.

Given how we have got to this point where the control plan has been revoked, does the Minister believe he could commence a restructuring or overhaul of the SFPA? As he has heard from Deputies here, as he has heard from the sector repeatedly and as he has heard in his town hall meetings last night, it is not working. The relationships have broken down and there is a lack of engagement. I ask the Minister to come back to me on the control plan.