Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Will the Minister say why the Minister of State is not present in the House to answer this question? Who makes the decision? Does the Minister make the decision or is it left entirely to the Minister of State?

The Minister refers to balancing of interests. How can it be possibly in anyone's interests, fishermen, conservationists or anglers, for us to ignore the scientific advice? The Minister stated he has three pieces of advice. The only advice which is based on reasoning and rational preservation of a species which will be of benefit to the fishing community, those interested in conservation and anglers, is for the Minister to accept the advice of the scientists. How can he possibly believe that anyone's interests are served by ignoring scientific advice? I ask the Minister to explain.

Will the Minister agree that at present a small number of fishing communities are catching a multiple of their conservation limit but fishermen, drift net fishermen and draft net fishermen in other areas on the east and south-east coast have nothing left? This is not a precautionary principle but rather a crisis. A serious problem exists in rivers such as the Nore, the Liffey, the Corrib and the Shannon. How can the Minister say there is conflicting advice as if one holds the same sway as the other? The only advice which any rational Government can follow is the scientific advice which is based on scientific study of the numbers needed to repopulate those rivers. How can the Minister ignore that advice? In whose interests is such a disregard for the survival of this species?

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