Professor Tom Collins:

Yes, there has been interaction with the ESB. The policy was discussed at our meeting last week.

It is obviously a major player. Its decisions and actions have a profound impact on the work of IFI. It is a relationship that we probably need to develop and understand better to see how we can be more impactful on ESB decision-making. It is possible that ESB's decisions around its role have an impact, and sometimes an unplanned consequence, on fishing, which is perhaps commensurate with the IFI's role. Working together, we can do some significant things. There has been engagement with ESB. It is in the early stages but the sense I have is that it is an engagement that needs to be enhanced and strengthened. The ESB itself needs to be conscious of its responsibilities with regard to fishing and the fish resource in its systems.