Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I very much appreciate being invited to contribute as I am not a member of this committee. That is why I have been in and out. I commend the committee. The length of today's hearing and the opportunity to hear the issues shows that the new politics sometimes does work. The Green Party supported the Bill on Second Stage and will support trying to get it through the Dáil in the remaining time of this Parliament.

I heard the contributions of Mr. Conneely and Mr. Early as well as that of Mr. Murray whom I know from Inishbofin, which I know very well. Mr. Conneely stated that his organisation is looking to set up a producer group. The key issue is route to market. I know from experience how the fisheries are dominated by non-quota species such as crab or lobster. If we are moving back to quota species for the likes of the island fisheries, have the witnesses looked at the business model? It is not going to be the big-scale model they are doing in Killybegs. There are some examples in Cornwall and other places of other small-scale fisheries for quota species that have a clear route to market and a good price. For the likes of Inis Oirr, it is important that we get it right and doing so will also help Doolin, which in a sense is peripheral, too. Similarly, if we got it right in Inishbofin I cannot see how it would not help Cleggan as well. They have a similar difficulty in terms of lack of distance. They do not have the resources of the likes of Castletownbere or Killybegs. If there is a business model that works for Inishbofin I do not see why it should not help Cleggan too.

I missed Dr. Ruth Brennan’s presentation earlier but will watch it back on the recording. When it comes down to dealing with quota species, there are some pelagic shoals coming in and out but in the waters around Inishbofin they are also starting to see pockets of local cod species that could be the sources of a sustainable fishery. Does Dr. Brennan have any model for a local fishery on an island in that regard? How do we stop it wiping out a local cod stock or whatever on the first day? Is there a good example of husbandry of such stocks? There was for hundreds of years, probably, on Inis Oirr when they were fishing but the tackle and the equipment was different then. There is such power on boats nowadays that some small boats I have seen coming out of small harbours, even of less than 12 m, could still wipe out a stock that in the past might have supported 30 fishermen on Inis Oirr. It could probably be done now with the fishing effort of one or two vessels. How do we develop a sustainable model for some of those quota catches so that they can support probably not 30 but ten or six fishermen? That would have tremendous effect.

What Mr. Murray says is so true. The knock-on effects in terms of the tourism benefit for the whole county or area are massive. Even having an indigenous industry changes the nature of tourism. The area is not just a tourist destination but a place that is carrying on a tradition and developing a new sustainable tradition. It becomes an interesting place to go to in its own right as well as being special for a range of other reasons.

I apologise for jumping in on the discussion having been out. I have a particular personal interest. I agree with Deputy Ferris that this is important for everyone. I am a Dublin Bay South Deputy but if one scratches a Dub one will find someone who is interested in the west coast of Ireland and the islands in particular.