Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have implemented nearly all the recommendations of the joint Oireachtas report. The main recommendation was that there would be a body that would represent inshore fishermen so that inshore fishermen would have a much-increased input into the development of policy that affects them and their industry and that is exactly what we are doing now. For the first time ever we have introduced regional inshore fisheries forums, at which people will sit down, make decisions on their own region, have an input into a national framework, and directly impact on policy regarding issues that affect them, whether that is V-notching for mackerel, supports for pots that have been lost in storms, gillnet fishing, line-fishing for mackerel, artisan fisheries, etc. There is a whole series of opportunities for them to make proposals, which I have said that I would be more than supportive of, if they make sense both from a policy and a finance perspective.