Gerard Craughwell (Independent)

I am sitting in my office in Leinster House 2000. I am sorry I did not come down, but I am trying to get some other work done as well. What I have got to say is fairly short and sweet. From the time we joined the European Union, I have seen fishermen thrown under the bus time and again. I have seen harbours around the country that once had several trawlers in them slowly but surely disappear. My colleague, Pat the Cope Gallagher, is 100% correct. In a very short space of time, we will not have a fishing industry, certainly at the scale we are talking about today.

Before I speak about one of my concerns, I just want to say we have to be honest. The Chair has been very honest here with the witnesses that have come here today. We cannot change Government policy or guarantee money. We cannot guarantee anything.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn referred to a fisherman sitting at home for three weeks due to bad weather and earning no income, what that does to a family, etc. Many things need to be looked at, but this committee should immediately investigate the privatisation that has been referred to by the witnesses. We need to find out exactly who is behind the privatisation, what formula is being used to divvy up quotas, etc.

To the three witnesses, I really do not have questions. They have been asked question after question and there is very little to be said from a question point of view other than I would like to know whether any of them or fishermen within their particular areas are likely to leave the industry in the very near future. I will leave it at that and I look forward to an answer from the witnesses.