Mr. Michael Keatinge:

I thank Mr. Buckley. I will make one other point in respect of fisheries local action groups, FLAGs. Last year I mentioned that we had gone from a small number of 41 projects in 2013 up to 450 projects last year and no eligible project was turned down. We have set an upper limit on projects but I hasten to add, regarding the FLAG structure we have put in place, that one reason they are looking at us in Europe is we did take a different tack. If one considers the United Kingdom, there is a FLAG in Cornwall but one then goes approximately 100 miles up the coast to the next FLAG, after which one goes round the corner up the east coast to the next FLAG. England has approximately six FLAGs, probably covering less than 15% of its coastline. I believe we stood up and told the European Commission that we would not follow this model. Everywhere on the Irish coast can be part of a FLAG with the obvious exception of the major urban areas, where technically one simply cannot operate.

However, we extend it right into Howth and then start it again just south of Bray. It was a different approach and I stand over it. To me, it is crucial that no single area along the coast should be singled out specially and told it will get preferential treatment. Any person living in a coastal community should be able to access FLAG funds and that is the model we have delivered. Anybody living in a coastal area should be able to put himself or herself forward for inclusion on the FLAG committee or board. In association with the FLAGs, we also have developed regional inshore fisheries forums. Again, that is taking from the work of this joint committee to give a new voice to inshore fishermen and consequently, the FLAGs now sponsor the regional inshore fisheries forums. They then send two members each from the six regions to the national inshore forum.

For the first time since 2009, when our lobster management plan in a sense collapsed, we have inshore fishermen getting a new voice in how fisheries are to be managed in the future. Let me be clear in this regard. We are here dealing with lobster, crab, scallop and a lot of stocks that, by and large, fall outside the day-to-day remit of the European Commission. Essentially, they are managed by Ireland and we believe fundamentally that this management can only operate successfully if a bottom-up approach is taken. Despite what the Commission may have told members, I challenge the Commission to come here and let us show it what we have done. In Ireland, we are unique in Europe, in that every coastal community can be part of a FLAG and every FLAG has a regional inshore fisheries forum and each such forum can send delegates to the national forum in Dublin. As a result, for the first time the quota management committee, which for many years was the preserve of the big vessel owner, now has two members from the national inshore fisheries forum. Inshore fishermen now are represented on quota management. The operational programme for the new maritime fisheries fund will meet for the first time in May. Inshore fishermen now have two seats specifically representing the inshore small-scale boats. We are making changes and it is very important that as the management team in BIM, we are answerable to this joint committee and give its members an assurance and guarantee that it is not the policy of BIM to turn its back on the coastal small-scale operator. In fact, it probably is the very opposite. I give the personal assurance that it remains our priority.

I will move on to the area of aquaculture.