Before we proceed, I wish to point out that if the Members first up, that is, the leaders of the groups, take more than the allocated one minute per person, they are taking time from the people at the end of the list. I ask everyone, please, to adhere to the one-minute allowance. I call Deputy Doherty.

There has been widespread outrage at the actions of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Agency, SFPA, in Killybegs over recent weeks. These actions have cost the local fishing community a huge amount of income and many workers have lost their livelihoods. It has forced some fishing vessels to turn away from Killybegs, never to return, and others have turned fish for human consumption into fish meal. Two fishing vessels were forced to land in Derry and then to have their catch transported to Killybegs for processing. If that was not bad enough, the SFPA has now removed in-factory weighing permits from the two fish factories in Killybegs on the basis "the SFPA remains of the view that the landing took place outside of Ireland". Does the Minister regard Derry as being outside of Ireland? Is he going to allow the SFPA to put a hard border on the island of Ireland and punish our fishermen and fish producers for daring to challenge this madness and trying to earn a livelihood for themselves?

I can confirm that on 31 March, the SFPA sought to undertake an inspection, which would include supervising the weighing before transport, of a fishing vessel at Killybegs Harbour. Such weighings are required by the interim EU control plan, as approved by the European Commission. The SFPA confirms that the master of the vessel and the operator objected to the process for weighing upon landing, as set out in the interim EU control plan. The master and the operator were offered the use of an industry-owned water separator, which would preserve the quality of the fish during the process. They opted not to avail of this and, subsequently, the master of the vessel chose to leave the port. The SFPA has notified the relevant regulatory authority of the EU member state in which this vessel is flagged of this interaction. Since then, two further vessels on which the SFPA sought to conduct a supervised weighing in Killybegs Harbour departed the harbour without landing the fish on board. A formal control plan to enable the derogation of weighing of fishery products after transport in Ireland was submitted to the European Commission in March of this year.

Time is up, Minister.

Unless the Commission approves this plan, the derogation that allows for weighing after transport will cease. This will involve landings being weighed on the pierside until a control plan is in place.

I thank the Minister. We have to finish.

That is the detail I have in response to the concerns raised.

That is nonsense.

I call Deputy Bacik.