Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Collins and congratulate him on being appointed. I wish the professor the best of luck in the years ahead in terms of his stewardship of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

I think it is safe to say Inland Fisheries Ireland was born at a period of recession which was possibly part of the raison d'êtreof the amalgamation of the old fisheries boards. I am not sure it has ever worked that well, particularly in the west. It has never garnered the respect or, if you like, love of the angling community in the west, especially those who fish the great western lakes. I wish the professor well in the years ahead.

Professor Collins mentioned the role of prosecutions, the path of poaching, etc. The legal powers of Inland Fisheries Ireland to prosecute for fisheries offences was called into question last year. Does Professor Collins know or would he be able to get us the number of prosecutions or potential prosecutions and fixed penalty notices that had to be abandoned and what the expected cost of this failing will be regarding paying legal fees to solicitors for initially preparing prosecutions file and then having to work on the disposal of these live cases in court? Will Professor Collins's board be seeking a report on this matter? It goes without saying there is a lot of annoyance, upset and embarrassment on the ground among IFI officers after they have done an exceptional job protecting the fisheries only to be told by the CEO at meetings that their cases will have to be withdrawn because of some mess-up or, to quote himself at one of the committees, a glitch.