Mr. Liam Lacey:

To deal with the collaboration issue, there are regulations in place at an EU level that allow shipping companies, particularly those involved in deep sea trade, to collaborate in the provision of capacity. This is a phenomenon in the airline industry as well. This may only be done where it results in an improvement for customers and the companies involved must abide by competition law. Where the total system can be improved through collaboration in a way that delivers benefits to customers, that is allowed. As I said, there is precedent for that, particularly with regard to deep sea trade. We were interested in understanding the extent to which that can happen in the Irish maritime industry within the confines of what is permissible under competition law.