Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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It is great to have representatives of the inshore fishing sector appear before the committee. I welcome Mr. Dixon, Mr. Desmond and Mr. Menarry. It is a rarity. This is a hugely important sector that has put bread and butter on the tables of many people throughout the country, particularly in our coastal communities. The sector has been under pressure. I grew up in west Cork. Many of my friends are inshore fishermen. They tell me about the difficulties they are experiencing. Mr. Desmond might be able to answer a few questions in order we can see if we can help his sector and put our shoulder more strongly to the wheel than we might have done.

Many families across the expansive region of west Cork, for example, in areas like Schull, Union Hall, Glandore, Castletownbere, all the way to Bantry and Glengarriff and down to Kinsale along with other coastal communities rely on inshore fishing as a primary means of income. Could Mr. Desmond provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the shrimp crisis on these fishermen and their families over the past two years?