I have noted the recommendations on the development of the seaweed industry. This industry has significant potential both in terms of farmed seaweed as well as gathered wild seaweed, as long as it is harvested properly. My Department is responsible for the issue of aquaculture licences in respect of the cultivation of seaweed. However, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for the issue of licences in relation to seaweed harvesting. Both Departments maintain ongoing communication on foreshore matters. It is important that both the farmed and wild industries have maximum synergy and accordingly I am asking my Department to engage with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure effective co-ordination in licensing both sides of the industry.

On fisheries and aquaculture development, I must have regard to the Common Fisheries Policy, taking account of environmental sustainability as well as economic, social and employment benefits, and a wide range of environmental and food safety legislation.

In addition, stakeholders need to be afforded opportunity to express how proposals may affect their interests. There are a number of existing structures for engaging stakeholders, soon to be joined by the newly-announced inshore forums, which are an appropriate location for dialogue on issues addressed in the report.

I look forward to discussing the committee's recommendations in further detail.

In respect of recommendation No. 9, safety at sea, we have a national inshore fisheries forum which is progressing in tandem with BIM's new approaches to safety at sea. I will also comment on recommendation No. 11 which refers to minor fishing offences. We are currently preparing legislation on fixed penalty notices, which means that in place of prosecutions there will be administrative fines. On the question of inshore industry representation, recommendation No. 20, I have answered that in the course of my address. In terms of the lobster and shrimp fisheries, the package we have announced goes a long way to addressing the concerns in recommendation No. 21. The same applies to fin fish standards. Recommendation No. 16 concerns licensing resources and recommendation No. 17 refers to sea lice controls. Recommendations No. 13 flags funding and No. 27 refers to data collection of inshore fisheries. Recommendation No. 4 deals with training and BIM provided 19 certified courses in 2013. The number of courses is growing all the time.

In regard to recommendation No. 2, marine governance, I chair the marine co-ordination group which brings together all maritime interests. Next week we will have our first national maritime conference, assessing progress on the targets around ocean wealth, which is a major integrated maritime policy document launched by Government last year.

In terms of local authority infrastructure and community policy, we have responded to many of the recommendations in the report. In terms of issues that are under consideration, the recommendation on landing statistics, BIM and Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, have responsibility for compiling data, and improvements in that area are currently being examined by both agencies.

I have partly answered the recommendation on seaweed licensing and it is under consideration at present.

On the question of the standard evaluation of grant aid systems, we are governed by EU rules but there is a new European Marine and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, which I hope will be announced this week and this will deal with the supports for the seafood and fishing sectors for the next six years. We have negotiated very hard to try to get the best outcome we can for Ireland from the new fisheries fund. I expect that the result will be very good for Irish fishing in terms of increased funding to support the seafood and fishing sectors in the range of changes they must make to be consistent with the Common Fisheries Policy.

However there are some things that we cannot do, for example the recommendations in the report on salmon stocks, salmon fishing and salmon heritage licensing. I was in Donegal recently and when one goes to places such as Greencastle one will get many requests to allow traditional fishing methods to be used again. One will also get similar requests from the fishing communities in west Cork, and when I was in Castletownbere recently people raised this issue with me. One will also get similar requests from those in Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay, on the entrance into Waterford Harbour and people who want to get back into the salmon industry. Let us be clear, I do not make decisions on salmon fisheries. That is the role of the Department of Communications. Energy and Natural Resources. Whether that is right or wrong is a debate for another day with another Minister. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is also responsible for inland fisheries.

In regard to the recommendation on social protection, and a call for an examination of PRSI, I will send that recommendation to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. Who knows where she will be in a few weeks time, but I will certainly pass it on to her in the meantime.