Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Gorman and thank him for a very interesting presentation. Obviously, from his presentation, Mr. Gorman is a very passionate angler. While his qualifications as a school principal are noble, I believe it is his passion for angling that is the reason he was a member and is now the chairman-designate of IFI.

To be chairman-designate of IFI is to hold a very responsible position that goes far beyond the passion for angling. I want to ask a series of questions on how Mr. Gorman sees his potential role as chairman of IFI and how he would gauge IFI's engagement with other statutory agencies that may have a role or may impact on some of the core objectives of IFI, whether that is in co-operation or, perhaps in some cases, in conflict with it. For example, how would he see IFI's position with respect to agencies such as the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, the Naval Service, the Garda Síochána, the Marine Institute and Fáilte Ireland? Mr. Gorman's presentation highlights the value of the angling tourism sector, both inland and sea angling. How is IFI supported in that respect by Fáilte Ireland and how would Mr. Gorman foresee engagement between IFI and Fáilte Ireland in terms of further developing the tourism potential of angling?

Mr. Gorman made a point about outdated legislation, which would always interest members of this committee and may warrant further correspondence. In terms of funding, there are obviously competing interests within IFI in regard to, for example, stocking, protection and enforcement. Does Mr. Gorman have a position with regard to increasing or decreasing funding? Does he believe IFI would get more bang for its buck by investing in stocking, in light of the British Columbia example, rather than, as he has outlined, spending more resources on protection and enforcement, particularly given the limited financial resources? Where would he see a greater kickback for the angling industry? Is the current level of funding appropriate and would he foresee it changing?

Another issue which is becoming increasingly prevalent and into the debate on which IFI is frequently dragged is river dredging, particularly with respect to the potential for flooding. I do not know when we last had a dredging programme but anecdotal evidence would suggest it was perhaps 50 or 60 years ago. One of the issues that continually arises among local authorities and agencies such as IFI is resistance to such an approach by some agencies that need to carry out river dredging to mitigate the risk of flooding. They are not allowed to do so or they are very restricted in the action they can take. In many cases it is too late. I would welcome if Mr. Gorman had a view on that and how he would stand over it in his position as chair.

A very contentious issue, which I have often spoken about when IFI is before the committee, is the developing aquaculture industry offshore. IFI has clearly made known its position on this industry in some of the publications I have read. The reality, however, is that, as a committee and as elected Members, some of us must engage in a balancing act with respect to the potential aquaculture provides to coastal communities and also the benefits provided by the angling sector in peripheral areas. We get conflicting information and studies, including from the Marine Institute. When I say conflicting, I mean the studies of IFI and the Marine Institute are not in agreement. As chairman, does Mr. Gorman see a role for greater co-operation or dialogue - or a new dialogue - between the Marine Institute and IFI with respect to coming up with a common position where the interests of both the angling sector and the aquaculture sector would be addressed? In the area in which I live, one company employs approximately 45 people. There is no way those 45 individuals would be employed anywhere else if the aquaculture industry did not exist. I represent them. A licensing regime is in place and I wish to hear how IFI will engage with it. I understand the regime is becoming more robust. I look forward to hearing the opinion of Mr. Gorman in that regard, not just as an angler but in his role as chairman designate of IFI.