Ms Suzanne Nally:

I can come in on the point about seals. Both species of seals - harbour or common seal and grey seal - are protected under the EU habitats directive. Ireland is obliged to maintain their numbers. We are monitoring their populations and we are reporting to the European Commission on their conservation status. A monitoring programme is in place.

While seals are protected, the Department can issue licences to cull them. Affected persons can apply for such licences. The officials in the NPWS are in discussions with the Marine Institute and Irish universities on approaches to managing seal-fishery interactions, including inshore fishing practices and trends, seal behaviour and numbers, and interactions between seals and fishing gear. We will continue to investigate these issues and potential solutions in partnership with the fishing industry.