Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I endorse the comments of Deputy Perry. Although the Taoiseach did not seem to be aware of it, this important report was produced and announced on the nine o'clock news and not to this House. The report has far-reaching ramifications for our inland waterways and fisheries in that it effectively abolishes the regional fisheries boards and the central fisheries board which has played an important research role over the years and which has co-ordinated our inland fisheries. It was discourteous to the House and the Ceann Comhairle that this report did not appear before the House before being announced on the news. This is another example of the ongoing war between the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dempsey, and his Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher. The Minister of State was trying to keep the marine and fisheries responsibilities together, but was prevented from doing so by the Minister.

The report is important. It seems to fly in the face of the Taoiseach's decentralisation policy by recentralising the fisheries supervision process. Above all, it abandons the research function inland fisheries had. It is discourteous to the House and we do not accept it.

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