Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

I am conscious I am eating into Senator Boyle’s time but to respond directly to Mr. Desmond, the committee is not the Minister or the Government. Our job is to hold Government to account, point towards policy improvements and innovation, highlight issues and hold State agencies to account. That is the committee's function and role in all of this. That said, we have people here who are clearly very passionate about the fishing industry. It is very important that in our first half year's work we get to grips with the issues affecting the inshore sector. The discussions we have had today and other discussions we have had and will have in the coming months will feed into a report the committee is compiling.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn is rapporteur for this committee on sea fisheries protection issues. There will doubtless be reports this committee will do in the future, looking at various aspects. We can of course write to Ministers, including the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, whom our witnesses will meet later today, but also the Minister for Finance and public expenditure and reform as and when necessary to make suggestions and demand certain changes. Whether they make those changes is beyond our ability to guarantee. I am conscious I have eaten into Senator Boyle’s time. I will give the Senator a minute to wrap up and will then go to our next speaker.