Mr. Micheál O'Mahony:

The direct question asked by Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan concerned whether we can guarantee the quality of product. It is a matter of statute that fish should be weighed. It is also a matter of fact that fish weighing has the potential to have a negative impact on quality. Another fact is that the only wing of the State which recognises this reality to the extent of writing a control plan to get away from weighing on landing is the SFPA. Therefore, our recognition in this regard is manifested in the authority having worked on a control plan in 2011 to ensure that the norm for fish weighing would be in the sheltered environment of a processing establishment. Therefore, we accept the central contention of the Deputy’s point and that acceptance has been manifested in our actions. It is not a silent or empty promise, but a real testament to what we have done in this regard.

The Deputy also asked about guarantees. It is not our role to guarantee fish quality. It is the fishermen’s role to weigh the fish, and when they are weighing the fish, they should also have an eye to quality to ensure that they do that weighing as quickly as possible to maintain the cold chain and to do it as accurately as possible to obtain the best possible accuracy from that weighing.

That is not an insignificant challenge and we acknowledge that it is more difficult at landing. However, it is possible at landing if due regard and attention are given to the detail or the balance of maintaining the cold chain, maintaining hygiene and getting an accurate fish weight.

All interventions have the potential to impact on quality and weighing is among those. Senator Lombard drew an analogy earlier with dairy production, which resonated with me. It is the same thing. Fish come out of the water at 12°C or 15°C and milk comes out of a cow at 37°C. From that point forward the producer, either a fisherman or a dairy farmer, is trying to get it cold and keep it moving. There are things we do to food that are not necessarily the best thing for quality and not everything we do to food passes the test of being a good thing for quality. The SFPA does not have the luxury of picking what is not optimal from a quality perspective and choosing not to implement those measures. We are agents of the State and creatures of statute so we are obliged to implement what is on the statutes, which require fish weighing. There have been repeated calls for an interim arrangement or something like that but we do not have that luxury or power. It has not been delegated to us or to anybody in Ireland. It is neither ours to give nor to withhold. I hope that is a useful answer to both members.