Ms Caroline Bocquel:

I agree absolutely with the Senator. I will respond on the two latter points and then I will turn to Mr. Donnelly on the boarfish. On the tax for the fishermen the Senator is absolutely right that this was in the programme for Government. It was also in our labour force study before that. This work is ongoing with Indecon at the moment. We are very keen to conclude that report. They are consulting with industry at the moment.

With regard to the smaller fishers, we believe there is a lot of scope for this area. One of the things that we have been talking about recently is the opportunity to involve our inshore fishermen in what we call fishermen science. We are aware of the increased spatial pressure, the inevitable arrival of offshore renewable energy, the marine protected areas at some point, as well as nature restoration. While these provide a lot of pressure for the sector they also provides economic opportunity. We would like to do, and we have been discussing this with the Marine Institute, a very small fishermen science course in one of our national fishery colleges whereby we can bring inshore fishermen in and teach them how to measure and monitor, things I am sure they already know, but to do so in a way that is going to be of scientific benefit and that will be consistent and, through the EMFAF, be able to make a contribution to them towards that.

That will both help Ireland in terms of our just transition and our nature restoration targets and help see the opportunities that come with marine protected areas for the sector. We think there are opportunities exactly as the Senator said. We have moved the V-notching scheme, as he will be aware, up to 100% funding. That has had an enormously positive impact. I have spoken to some of the lobster fishermen, who said it was of huge benefit to them. We are looking at lots of programmes that can help to ensure that all these fishers stay within their costal communities doing the jobs they want to do and ensuring that this is there for the next generation.

I will ask Mr. Donnelly to speak on boarfish.