Mr. Máirtín Ó Murchú:

We would like the land and seaweed that were marked in the folio numbers to be respected. We would like the Minister to search in the congested district board maps and the dealing numbers for any seaweed papers that have been lost, so they can be known. The seaweed was cut right and was always there. It is renewable and good, and the people had it. The people cutting now, who may not have the folios or the rights, have done a good job and have looked after it, and it is still there after approximately 100 years. If the State claims seaweed cutting must be licensed, the licences should be given to the cutters who have looked after it and ensured the seaweed grew again.

In the 1960s, approximately 65,000 tonnes of seaweed were taken from Connemara and sold, and the seaweed is still there. It was never abused. People cut it with a knife below and it grows again even better. Studies have proven it is the right way to do it. Although it is not an easy life, people would like to have the right to do it and wish to be able to sell it to Acadia or any other company that wishes to buy it. Over the years, Arramara Teoranta has been a great buyer of seaweed and has employed many people in hauling and cutting seaweed. People had the right and could sell it. We hope they will retain the right so the current generation and the next generation will have something, and if someone new wants to start out with a smaller company they will have the right.

When people look after something for 100 years and it has grown, they will not abuse it but will look after it. We would like it to remain as it is. If regulations must come, they should apply to people who are cutting and have been there for generations so no cowboys can come in. So far, no cowboys have been cutting seaweed because cowboys want easy money. It is not easy work, but people earn money on it and we would like it to continue.