Mr. John McKeon:

I have some. The net emigration figure in 2011-12 - the emigration figure minus the immigration figure - as estimated by the CSO for the year to April 2012 was 35,000.

In the year to April 2014, it was 20,000. The net figure has dropped approximately 15,000 in two years and unemployment fell during those two years. The CSO produces its emigration forecast around mid-year every year for the period April to April. At an absolute level, there has been net emigration since 2010 of approximately 145,000 people but during the period when unemployment has been falling, the numbers emigrating have been falling. In statistical terms the fact that the number of people emigrating is falling is adding people into the labour force which tends to increase the unemployment rate if employment is not growing. The fact that the emigration has been falling-----

Anyway, it is important for all of us to realise that there are two great factors in our lives. One is growing this economy in order that we can pay for the services people want. The other major factor is brought home to every Deputy who goes home every weekend, that is, the fact that we run this country for the people who live in this country. Approximately 80% of boat owners have boats of less than 10 m. The greatest number of people involved in direct fishing are actually small operators living in coastal communities. The reality is they are trying to get from €5,000 to €7,000 and not have the dole man come after them. They are not thinking about grandiose plans of billions of euro. They are simply wondering how they can make the bills next year and how they can hold their communities together. I see no mention in the document about what we are going to do for these people.

I am particularly surprised that there is no reference in the BIM annual report to the work done by this committee on the coastal communities in which we highlighted the specific issues faced by this major sector in terms of human beings trying to eke a living out of fishing and the sea and indeed seaweed, which is not mentioned either. I see no mention of whether it is Bord Iascaigh Mhara's intention to act on the strong cross-party recommendations, which had the backing of every political party and none, in the form of Deputy Pringle, represented in the Oireachtas. Where are we on that issue? In terms of actual human beings that is the greater number in the game.

In this country we seem to be so hell-bent on the macroeconomy that we forget this is all about ordinary human people trying to survive and make a little more. They are beset by more and more regulation. Even if BIM implements all this, if we do not do something about the small people on the ground nothing will change. Our communities are being destroyed. I am disappointed that there seems to be little in the BIM report that would do anything in line with the report put together by the Oireachtas. I am surprised that there was no reference in the statements today to the important work done by the joint Oireachtas committee over a long period, work which has all-party support.