Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 11, to delete lines 36 to 38 and substitute the following:

""fishing gear" includes any net, pot, trap, line, pole, dredge or other apparatus of any kind and any attachment of any kind thereto used or capable of being used for catching fish;".

This amendment is in response to concerns expressed by Deputies Ferris and Perry on Committee Stage. The point the Deputies made was to the effect that the definition of fishing gear in the Bill could be very widely interpreted. In particular there was a fear that it could be interpreted to include the boat itself. That was not the intention in the original provision. To respond to the Deputies' concern we have introduced a revised definition of fishing gear, which is proposed in section 6. It is in section 219 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 and is extended to include specifically pots, poles and dredges. That should meet the concerns both Deputies expressed on Committee Stage.

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