Mr. John Lynch:

I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn. On the design of decommissioning, it is the policy of the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation not to have any decommissioning. We did not support it on the previous two occasions and we do not support it this time. However, people on the ground are short of quota and the availability of fishing opportunity. They do not see a way out and they are asking that we would at least negotiate a price. We are not altogether happy with the formulation or the discounts and we are not happy that premiums were not offered for ring-fenced sectors and vessels with exclusive fishing rights. There was no premium offered.

We are also not happy with the tie-up scheme money possibly being deducted from the decommissioning money next year, when decommissioning is to be paid. The tie-up scheme was to help alleviate the issues for 2021 and it is proposed that this be deducted from the decommissioning scheme if people take it up, in 2022.

We are absolutely not in favour of decommissioning and would go to any lengths to stop it. The only reason we got involved with negotiating the price of decommissioning was that it is a voluntary scheme. As people have rightly pointed out at this meeting, the figures do not add up. It is €63 million and 8,000 gross tonnes and it does add up with the €12,000 top-up premium that has been offered. Even offering €10,000, it does not add up. We are definitely not happy with it but we were on the task force and we got involved with designing the scheme because people on the ground would like to take it. Having said that, we remain opposed to decommissioning in the Irish fleet. It is our objective to get a fairer share of those quotas that the Deputy mentioned.

The Deputy spoke about unity among the organisations. The four organisations represented at this meeting work very well together. As the Deputy said, we do not agree on absolutely every matter, although we respect each other's individuality. From time to time, we make different points but overall we support each other and back each other up at meetings. Ultimately, we all have the same objective, which is to get the best deal possible for the Irish fishing industry. We will work as hard as we can to get there.