Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for taking the time to make the long trip to this meeting. We ran this meeting in an unconventional way to facilitate interaction between the members of the committee and the representatives of the fishing industry. We are keen to get an idea of how we can help to make the scheme work and deal with some other issues. With the agreement of members, I propose that we go into private session to decide what we will do next. Normally, we would adjourn. As we are not sitting next week, it is important for us to agree a couple of things today. If we have to reconvene on Thursday morning to finalise and sign off on them, we will do so. I thank all the witnesses for attending today's meeting and making their presentations. I hope it is of some comfort to the representatives of the various fishing communities that we are trying to understand their circumstances and be of assistance to them. That is what the committee is here to do. We hope to be able to make representations to the relevant Ministers and the other powers-that-be with the aim of trying to resolve the short-term and medium-term difficulties. I understand that the first conference of the Harnessing our Ocean Wealth initiative will take place on Wednesday, 18 June at The Printworks in Dublin Castle. Further details will be available at ouroceanwealth.iein approximately two weeks. That information became available to us during the meeting. I thank the witnesses again.