Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for his intervention. He is raising concerns and issues that have been shared with him and with me. I met the SFPA. The people I met and the various sections of the organisation are fulfilling their mandate to the best of their ability. We have to recognise that the authority's role is prescribed in legislation. We are precluded from involving ourselves directly in any decisions it takes. The Deputy raised points that are relevant and that an be discussed at the committee.

We also have to recognise that there is an important role for the SFPA in ensuring that we meet our commitments at European level regarding our quota management, landings and all of that activity. We need to look to a future that will involve greater use of technology, as the Deputy identified and as was identified for those of us who had an opportunity to visit the ports, and the level of scrutiny that is now available through such technology. That is where we have to go ultimately, because the sense I get is that the fishing industry generally is committed to doing what is right. We need to work with those on all sides to ensure that this happens.

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