Mr. Michael Keatinge:

I will take the questions in the order they were asked. The budget we are discussing is part of the EFF, which exists from the last CFP. The new CFP has been agreed, but what has not been agreed yet is the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, or EMFF.

We do not yet know what Ireland will receive. We know Axis 4 and the FLAGs have been retained and strengthened in their appearance in the new funding mechanism. Ireland will get an opportunity to address the budget of the FLAGs. That will not be in the gift of BIM but will be a decision by the Minister. The funds I am talking about run to the middle of 2015 at the very latest. In theory the new funds should begin in 2015 also, so we are talking about 2014. To return to something Deputy Harrington raised, the key point is that by having a FLAG network in place we can avail of and draw down the EMFF funding. It is a matter of ensuring it is given due priority, but that is a matter for the members rather than for me.