Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I agree with Deputy Whitmore that Inland Fisheries Ireland is a hugely important agency. The quality of our fisheries is as good a marker and test as any of what we are achieving on water quality and biodiversity protection in a variety of different ways, the acidity of our water reflecting land use and forestry and so on. I suggest, with the arrival of a draft new corporate plan for 2021-25, that this might be an opportunity for the committee to bring in Inland Fisheries Ireland, look at this strategy and consider whether there are plans for the expansion, deepening and strengthening of its role. If so, I would be very interested to see if we might get support for that from the Exchequer and to question the agency in detail on whether there is further ambition or widening or strengthening of the work it is doing. In my own communications with the agency, I might suggest to it that such questioning by this committee may arise. I would very much welcome if the committee were interested in reporting back to me in advance of next year's budget Estimate on what approach should be taken. That would be useful work.

I have an interest in the salmon run. It is one of those phenomena that are critically important. Salmon are an endangered species. Ireland is one of the few remaining countries in Europe which has a wild salmon run of any scale. Anecdotally, I am told that this year, for whatever different reasons, there has been a significant return of salmon compared with previous years. I do not know whether this is related to any immediate environmental factors around Covid, perhaps reduced fishing activity, but it has inspired me. We have gone to a lot of work in recent years, with the removal of drift netting and other measures, to try to protect the salmon run. If we could turn that into further increases in future years, I think it would be hugely symbolic for the protection of our natural systems. If the committee were interested in looking at this and willing to do so and willing perhaps to bring the agency before the committee to explain its new corporate plan and to push its representatives, I would be very keen to back that up and follow it up.

I will be honest. I will have to revert to Deputy Whitmore directly - in writing, perhaps - on LAWCO. I am not familiar with the nature of its work.