Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Other developments in Castletownbere, Rossaveal and Dunmore East are ongoing or imminent. These are all positive developments involving expenditure of many millions of euro. It is money well spent and I have no doubt that these worthwhile investments will yield many benefits for fishermen, the fishing industry and other harbour users in the regions in question. The Government is clearly making progress in developing the marine sector.

I will address the six points outlined in the motion. In terms of days at sea, it is significant that it was this Government which secured many important concessions in this area. I am sure the Minister of State will refer to them. It was successful in having European Union proposals adjusted to minimise the effect on the Irish whitefish sector, thus allowing the main whitefish effort, prawn fishing, to be largely unaffected. An acknowledgement of this significant achievement would be much more responsible than blindly giving out about days at sea.

As regards delays in licensing, while some may have occurred initially, the record will show that turnaround time has significantly improved and is much quicker than in the past. The motion refers to "a lack of progress in relation to promised investment in harbour development". I have never heard such a joke given that the level of investment, amounting to millions of euro, has been unprecedented, not least in Killybegs and other areas. In addition, many smaller piers have been developed in conjunction with county councils.

I am sure the Minister of State will deal with aquaculture. With regard to the "promotion of sea-angling as a viable option for the future tourism development", there are no grounds for the claim of Government inaction. Bord Iascaigh Mhara operates a scheme under which grants are regularly allocated.