Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail)

The witnesses are all very welcome and I thank them for their presentations. They have been most useful.

Like others, I believe fishers are responsible workmen and workwomen. At the end of the day, conservation is in their own interest and the majority of fishers would recognise that. I will ask all my questions if the witnesses do not mind and then they can respond.

My first question relates to sites and how lucrative some of these sites are. The witnesses mentioned six sites had planning. Being another Donegal man, I have a strong interest in the north-west coast and the west coast generally. I have been told, rightly or wrongly, that the area off our north-west coast is possibly the second most lucrative site in the world and some in the industry have been looking at it in that regard. From the witnesses' knowledge, where would those six sites mentioned, if their potential is realised, sit with the north-west site? This is all happening on a small basis on the east coast, getting larger as we move around the south coast and head north. The planning has started on the east coast. From my perspective, an awful lot of time has been wasted on those small sites on the east coast, when we should have had the best of the whole lot from day one to meet our targets. We cannot turn the boat around at this stage - pardon the pun - but I feel we are at the bottom of the pile. Is there a possibility we could be left out altogether?

Do the witnesses have any concerns regarding the grid and the potential sites having the network to carry the extra power? If so, could they spell those out? If we develop all these sites, do the witnesses envisage us being in a position to export power to the EU?

I have visited both Killybegs and Rossaveel. Last year, when I was running in the European elections, a number of people got on to me about Rossaveel and I visited the area a couple of times.

An awful lot of work has been done there and it would not take an awful lot more to make it a viable site. I hear a lot of talk of Cork and other parts of the south. With a little planning and extra work and spend, Rossaveel could be a viable site. What are the witnesses' opinions on that?

Killybegs was also at a very early part of the presentation but there was very little word on it. It is probably one of the best piers in the country. There are then smaller piers on the north-west coast that have potential, such as Greencastle and Rathmullan, one of the deeper sea ports in the country.

Regarding the DMAPs, I have heard it said this is not meeting its targets. When will the mapping be done in the north west?