Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I acknowledge the presence in the Visitors Gallery of my former colleague from the fishing community, Councillor Alcorn. I congratulate the Minister on his jobs initiative in Killybegs six weeks ago. It was launched in conjunction with LYIT, Donegal County Council and various agencies. Is this predicated on our maintaining our national quotas? If quotas are split up, plans for the jobs initiative in Killybegs could be compromised.

I agree with Senator Ó Domhnaill on the privatisation of quotas. It is the wrong approach and it is against the ethos of the European Union to split up national quotas and place them in private ownership. This allows any company throughout the world to manipulate the stocks. Regarding the Faroe Islands and Iceland, does the Minister agree that whatever needs to be done must be done to bring this issue to a head as otherwise there will be a free-for-all in the north Atlantic?

An increase in fish farming is the way forward. I was in France recently and I noticed Norwegian fish being marketed in the larger supermarkets. Irish fish is just as good and this is an opportunity.