Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Colleagues, thank you for that round-the-house discussion. It was very useful. We will, when we go into private session, have an opportunity to feed into our work plan. We have ventilated an awful lot of the issues. I was heartened to hear the approach of many members as regards offshore renewables and that there is huge scope in that regard. The discussion is about the just transition for coastal communities, as Deputy Whitmore said. It is about voices being heard, the potential for new technology in terms of offshore being raised, and, as Senator Craughwell said, the need to invest in ports and harbours.

These are important items to consider. I am also heartened to hear the call for unity from my party colleague, an Teachta Mac Lochlainn, on inshore and offshore fisheries. If we are united in our approach, we can go further. If we are disunited, we will not achieve at the European level what we need to achieve as an island nation. There is a clear view among committee members on the need for an assertive and forward-looking approach to our national maritime resources. That is important.

I apologise if I sounded dismissive to Deputy Cleere when discussing inland fisheries. I did not mean to be. I agree. Flood relief schemes being held up is also an issue in my own constituency, one I am currently engaging on. It is something that we can look at and try to have that engagement to see if inland fisheries can, in some way, be added to the remit of this committee. Many of the species that are a resource in our maritime environment rely on our inland waterways for breeding and recruitment.

I thank committee members. We may have pre-empted some of our later discussion, so I will ask members to refrain at that point unless there is anything new to discuss. We will do ourselves all a favour if we do not repeat ourselves.

The next item is a note of information regarding the nominations for Leas-Chathaoirleach. As members know, a committee may choose to elect a Leas-Chathaoirleach who can perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Cathaoirleach in my absence. I propose that we request nominations for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. It is important that we have one for this committee. It is a new committee and I would welcome the support of having a Leas-Chathaoirleach. It would also broaden the scope of the committee and be a progressive step. Members will have an opportunity to consult one another, discuss the matter individually and consider whether they would be interested. Members can send nominations to the clerk by email, fisheries@oireachtas.ie, by 12 noon on Monday, 19 May. If the proposal is agreed, that is the time we will set for the receipt of nominations. Ideally, the election of the Leas-Chathaoirleach will take place at the second meeting of the committee, for which we have yet to agree the time and date. Is that agreed? Agreed.