Mr. Francis O'Donnell:

We submitted a workforce plan to our parent Department approximately 18 months ago. Like all of the agencies under the remit of the Department, we are looking for resources. Yet, it was very detailed and it very much focused on the new space we are moving into. There are traditional fisheries management, fisheries protection and environmental protection, but the situation is becoming very complex. We did not believe, and still do not believe, we have enough environmental officers on the ground. We do not have enough specialists, such as ecologists and environmental scientists, working on the operations side either. We do our traditional research, which is important, but anything we now do on the operations side of the house will need screening, environmental consent, etc. We were stuck for 12 years at 312. Last year, we managed to get off “Go” for the first time in 12 years when we got an additional resource of ten individuals. We are hoping to get more this year, but it is not enough.

I am not being critical of our parent Department, which has pointed the compass in a different direction. Our Minister is very focused on environmental issues and the need to look at the wider environmental kaleidoscope that is out there, as well as the problems. He has asked the IFI to think about what we would look like 20 years from now. That workforce plan is there, and it is very detailed. We have asked for approximately an additional 140 staff. I know that is not realistic in the current economic climate, but if we are to tackle the challenges we are facing, we will need that level of investment within the organisation over a period of four or five years.

In the context of the Shannon, while I agree regarding the Shannon, there needs to be much better collaboration between agencies regarding all water bodies when it comes to protecting wildlife and what we are all doing to get the best out of that. I appreciate that the Shannon is important, but we have the remit to protect and look after all water bodies. It is a matter of better collaboration and delegation of functions and powers between the agencies, particularly around the habitats directive SI No. 477/2011. There are very strong legislative powers in place, and it is critical that a number of agencies have those powers. It is clear to citizens and members of the public about who has those powers and whether or not they are going to enforce them.

I am sorry for digressing. I have found from talking to the public in a number of fora lately that there seems to be confusion out there regarding who should be doing what. That confusion is a little bit around what we do as well. There is a bit of work for us to do there as well.