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

The reason I ask the questions is that the view of the sector is that there is a very significant decline in that period and we need to be able to measure that. I appreciate the Minister does not have the information but I ask that it be sent on to me so we can measure the scale of the problem that is there. Of course, as the Minister has acknowledged, the prices for crab, lobster and right across the shellfish sector are quite devastating. I imagine it is even worse in the past while.

As the Minister said in his statement, Bord Iascaigh Mhara has responsibility for the inshore strategy. In fairness, there is a very detailed response from it to the testimony of the NIFA representatives at a previous committee hearing. We have that here. However, my understanding is that the implementation committee last met about five years ago, or just under that. To me, the best way actions can really be measured is to have an implementation committee. Is there any response as to why that has been allowed to happen? I appreciate BIM is drafting a new strategy right now but will there be a commitment to have these regular implementation committee meetings? First of all, is it correct that the last time that implementation committee met was in 2019? The date I hear is 25 November. How is that going to be addressed moving forward?