Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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The big contradiction here is between what the Department's policy document, Fisheries Quota Management in Ireland, states it has to do and free market enterprise, which flies in the face of it. The problem is that the bigger factories, which are also the bigger owners of boats - they are both the same thing - can create a monopoly and squeeze everybody else out. That flies in the face of the stated policy of the Department. I was in Europe recently and one of the major topics being discussed in terms of all of this was the artisan fisheries, how the small coastal communities need to be protected and the need to ensure they can continue to operate. That is the least wasteful way of catching fish because the big fisheries waste more than they use. Part of this is also about society, as well as about the fish. The witnesses make their point well. The Department will have to make a choice as to whether it is for free market enterprise to run amok, to take off the brakes and away it goes, where the market will always be king. If that is to be the way, the witnesses can forget about the policy outlined in the start of their statement to the effect that any movement towards privatisation and concentration of rights into the hands of large companies would seriously risk fishing vessels. That will no longer count. I do not know where we can get a sense of what side the Department is on.

Surely, you have come to some assessment here. One would be very despondent at the lack of response from the Department. Is it saying that it will not do anything at all?