Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am raising concerns brought to my attention in the context of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI. This agency has responsibility for the protection, development and management of over 74,000 km of rivers and streams, together with 128,000 ha of lakes. For my part of the country, it is crucial that this agency is running in line with good governance, transparency and accountability. I know how important it is to the great western lakes programme within my own county and surrounding areas.

The first issue I will raise relates to the board of IFI. The board is now down to five people, including its CEO and staff representatives, with no chairperson currently in place. Five people have resigned from the board of IFI since the end of April 2022, including two chairpersons. We can imagine the concern at present. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has yet to replace any of them, and the Secretary General has not conducted any type of investigation into what is happening within this State agency. At this point, I might bring in the Comptroller and Auditor General in regard to the Accounting Officer of IFI presenting the accounts for 2021.