Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator very much. The understanding of the migratory flows and patterns of certain species in our waters is handled in the first instance by the Marine Institute, which falls under the remit of the Department in the area for which I have responsibility. I visited the institute recently and I am in regular contact with it. The Marine Institute is an outstanding operation and it does some amazing work in capturing data. We will not be found wanting in terms of having access to knowledge when it comes to fighting our corner in that regard. That will be part of an overall negotiation at Brussels level.

It is a challenge because for us to get new quota, as it requires somebody else to give way. I understand the pressures inshore fishermen and women and the small operators in particular are under. It is a bit like small farming, which I understand very well, having grown up on one, and the implications involved.

To the best of my knowledge - Ms McSherry will correct me if I am wrong - there was a previous policy position taken on reallocating or adjusting quotas between certain sectors within the Irish area. That was judicially challenged and there was a judicial review on it that is still in the courts. It is not straightforward to adjust the share in our own area between the bigger fleets and the smaller fleets. The decision of a previous Minister was challenged. That makes it difficult for me to move forward at the moment with a new plan in that regard, if we were minded to do it, based on observations or discussions, because it would be challenged. The decision that was already made is still being challenged in the courts, so it is not just a matter of the stroke of a pen from me or the Government to reallocate quota. We must follow a process, and it is open to challenge. That is where that lies.