Mr. Máirtín Ó Murchú:

The Department with responsibility for the marine used to take a nod and wink approach and would not say a word about licences because the issue was too sensitive and could create uproar. This approach was considered acceptable for years, as we have just been told. We were informed that Arramara Teoranta would apply for a licence for the cutters to safeguard them from any new legislation that might be introduced and they would not have any problem continuing to harvest as usual. This is not the way the licence has worked out, however. If it was the case that the licence was applied for to save the cutters and those working on the shore line, we would not be afraid. It seems, however, that the licence was issued in a certain manner and when various people were informed, some of them were not very happy. The process is similar to the scenario set out by Deputy Ó Cuív in that we were to have a joint application between the cutters, owners and so forth as this would protect us from an extensive licence that would come from Dublin, Brussels or elsewhere. If this had been done and we had been consulted, we might not be in the current position. The current approach is creating more fog on the line, which is the reason we want to protect what we do. The solution is simple. We want investment by Acadian Seaplants and development but we also want to protect those who are most vulnerable because it is the most vulnerable who will be kicked out if anything goes wrong. The money that was referred to does not compute with me, but maybe I am too simple to understand.