Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I have a number of questions myself. I will give them to you all at the beginning and if you could answer them sequentially, I would be grateful.

The first relates to infrastructure and, although not a core function of BIM, it is something on which it no doubt engages. I am on record as saying to the Minister that his Department's local authority ports and harbours funding scheme is dysfunctional, not adequate and not fit for purpose precisely because local authorities cannot access the funding they need to carry out works that are required. I am thinking in particular of dredging for smaller harbours where, because of the preparatory work, the licensing and the foreshore licence and because the environmental impact is not redeemable, they cannot apply for that money. That is often more expensive than the dredging itself. Has BIM conducted any analysis or study on the impact of this on the inshore sector? I am thinking of a particular harbour, Cé Heilbhic in west Waterford, which has a small inshore fleet operating out of it - or should do but boats are prevented from leaving and entering port at low water for much of the year because of a buildup of sand and silt. There are other ports and harbours in a very similar predicament all around the coast.

On the same theme of infrastructure, the State, as you know, operates a number of fishery centres, including in Dunmore East and Dingle, and is responsible for funding capital works. There is a very ambitious scheme for Dunmore East; however, it has not been funded. My colleague David Cullinane, in response to a parliamentary question, has found that Dunmore East is the second lowest recipient of funding over the last 20 years in terms of capital. Dunmore East is the main fisheries harbour in the south-east coast. We can see it from the species where there have been decreases. They are species like John Dory and monkfish that are particularly important on the south-east coast. As Dunmore East is a Brexit access harbour as well, there are a huge number of factors here that would illustrate to me the strategic importance of Dunmore East. Has BIM a role to play in advocating with the Department that funding would be made available here? Has there been any engagement with the harbourmaster and the fishing industry operating out of Dunmore East?

Allied to this question of infrastructure, I understand that BIM has responsibility for ice plants. What is the strategy, the plan, for ice plants? Is the one in Howth operational? What is the plan for the ice plant in Dunmore East? I had a question about water quality that was not answered, so you might come back on that, if you do not mind.

As regards diversification, I do not believe that the FLAG fund, which, as I understand it, is administered by BIM, is hitting the right notes in providing economic diversification in coastal communities. I am thinking of the likes of lobster hatcheries, for example, on the south coast that could support those inshore boats with the pots and create a level of employment in tourism, in the hatchery itself, on those coasts.

This has been done quite successfully on the south coast of England. Is that a model we could look at here? The razor clam fishery has decreased by 17%. Concerns have been raised especially on the east coast in the vicinity of Clogherhead about the impact of potential or alleged illegal fishing in that area. Does BIM have any comment on that? Has it looked into it or is it apprised of those concerns?