Mr. Paul Kelly:

In the context of the delivery of offshore wind in Ireland, we have that one pre-existing project off the coast of Arklow that is now at the end-of-life stage, so the amount of active work that is ongoing in relation to phase 1 of offshore wind is limited to geophysical and geotechnical surveys. The members we represent all employ fisheries liaison officers to provide a direct point of contact for the fishing community in respect of projects. Those survey activities require offshore fisheries liaison officers and onshore fisheries liaison officers, but there is a limit to the number that are required at survey stage. What is critically important is to deliver this first phase of offshore wind farm projects where those resources are going to be required to be supplemented. This is because there will be thousands of jobs created in the delivery of phase 1 of offshore wind, with multiple vessels involved in the construction phase of the projects that provide those opportunities. It is very important to deliver this infrastructure using an informed and inclusive plan-led process in order that those opportunities become predictable and programmed such that people are supplementing their income from fishing activity by working on an offshore wind project, and that the latter becomes reliable and does not become fits and starts of opportunity where people cannot make long-term strategic decisions. The work Captain McCabe is leading under the seafood-ORE working group is really the genesis of our relationship, which will need to last for 40- to 50-plus years in order that both industries can work together to maximise those opportunities.