Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister. As a new Senator I have not heard many Ministers speak with such enthusiasm, commitment and gusto. The Minister has great knowledge of his brief. I have complimented him previously on his performances on radio and television.

The Minister mentioned the need to upskill farmers throughout the country. I have a question about shellfish farmers whom I watch from my back door. I am the Member of the Oireachtas who lives closest to the water; I live on the water. My son is a shellfish man and I wonder about the laborious methods they use. Is upskilling available for shellfish and oyster farmers?

As an island nation we have opportunities in the shellfishing industry to export to Europe, because what is being done at present is only a fraction of what could be done. The area in which I live is a designated shellfishing area but there are effluent discharges from Northern Ireland and the towns on the lough. What can be done to minimise the discharge into the waters of important designated shellfishing areas?