Ms Caroline Bocquel:

We absolutely do so in terms of the technical advancements they are making. For example, we have taken a group of processors to the Faroe Islands. We have been to Norway and Iceland to examine some of the most modern technology being deployed there, with the absolute ambition of funding, through the seafood development programme, processors to replicate the technologies in Ireland to ensure we are capturing in the global markets.

We certainly consider benchmarking from a technology perspective. We believe we have what is among the most modern seafood-processing sectors in the world and we want to maintain and grow it. We are certainly very cognisant of what is happening technically in the countries in question. We go on several field trips to visit various plants to see all the technology.