Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy Cahill has joined the meeting. Attendees will recall that at the start of the meeting he sent his apologies and said he would like to come in at the end if he could make it in. He has joined us online and indicated that he wishes to speak. The floor is Deputy Cahill's. At the outset, he might confirm verbally that he is on the precincts of Leinster House. The Deputy seems to be muted, so we might have to come back to him.

I have a number of questions for the witnesses. The vast bulk of what I had intended to say today has already been said. The witnesses can rest assured of my support for the inshore sector. I see how important it is socially and economically and from a heritage point of view. I can see how important it is for coastal communities all around this island, particularly in my own area where I see it up close. I know the pride that comes with the heritage and the sense of personal pride for those who go to sea and fish and who care deeply about the environment, but also the sense of community pride in coastal communities. One thing that is of huge concern to me is not only the recruitment of new fish but the recruitment of new fishermen and women. It seems to be an ageing industry, if we are being brutally honest about it. There are not a huge amount of young people entering the industry and to be brutally honest, could you blame them? It is a tough station made much tougher not by the hard work that it involves, although it is hard work, and not by the dangers and risks, although there is danger and risk involved, but by all the issues we have discussed here today.

I am particularly concerned about the lack of young people who are participating in the young fisherman scheme. Are there improvements the witnesses could suggest to that scheme or, indeed, reshaping a whole new scheme that could go some way to encouraging young people to enter into the industry and particularly the inshore industry? Obviously, I take the point, and the witnesses can take it as read that addressing the issues that have already been raised here today would probably be the biggest single thing they could do to make it an attractive prospect, but are there other things that could be done to encourage young fishers into the industry?