Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for his document, which I received, although I have not had a chance to go through it in detail. In terms of capturing the sentiment of the fishing community, I have seen that at first hand. There is a very clear recognition that we must continue to engage with the community and I am prepared to do that, as I know the Deputy does. I will visit Rossaveal again tomorrow and there are a number of other harbours I have to get to that are within our area of control, namely, Howth and Dunmore East. I have visited the others.

Having engaged with the sector right from the start, I know there are many issues of concern to it. Some of those issues are outside of my control. Some are within the remit of European levels, so my plan there is quite simply to engage to the fullest extent possible, particularly with those coastal member states and ministers, and I have begun that process. I have had quite a number of engagements with the Commissioner and his senior staff. His presence in Castletownbere - I know Senator Boyle was there - was really helpful in informing him in the words of the people who were most affected. He reflected in a conversation on Monday how taken he was by the level of engagement and the understanding of the sector. It was a good engagement in that people brought their issues rather than their frustration and he looked at it from a positive perspective. I am hoping that in whatever ultimate review there is of the CFP, if there is to be a review, there will at least be an opportunity for us to have our voices heard. We will amplify every channel of the member states we have had engagement with. I have had some experience with our European colleagues through work I have done previously, so I am clear about that.