Ms Teresa Morrissey:

We made several iterations around supports in terms of storm damage after Storm Éowyn. There were a number of operators affected. Thankfully, not widely, but there were people affected. We have had biological challenges in the salmon industry in the last two years, 12 months or 18 months. In the Cathaoirleach's own constituency, there has been significant oyster mortality over the last two years.

To give a short answer, there are no direct supports available when those incidents occur, despite us asking several times. There is no mechanism to deal with that. This has been an issue for us. We have highlighted it several times under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF. We hope that, in future, there will be a mechanism to allow us to at least access some of those funds. As the Cathaoirleach noted, if an operator experiences recurring mortality several years in a row, that will not be sustainable. With regards to recurring mortality, we also have to address the causes of the problem, and we are trying to do that as well.