Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I accept the Deputy's comments on this matter. We are vigorously pursuing the allocation of extra personnel to the port. Most landings were at Killybegs. When it was suggested that we concentrate resources there, for one reason or other, the industry decided it wanted wider coverage. If it was a case that the fishing industry was willing to allow Killybegs, where the majority of fish are landed, to be a designated port, then we would be able to give 24-hour coverage. That is something perhaps the fishermen in Killybegs and the fishing industry generally should take into account. It was to accommodate the industry that landings at four ports other than Killybegs were agreed to. That has stretched resources. We are trying to get the resources to ensure those ports can be adequately covered and that we can give the type of coverage for which they are looking.

A possible compromise would be if we went back to the situation where landings were only allowed to take place in Killybegs. I think I would then be in a position to say to the Deputy that we would be able to give 24-hour coverage and ensure the job losses and the damage being done to the local economy in Killybegs would not continue. So far, we have not got that agreement.

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