Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

I propose to share my time with Deputies Eamon Ryan and Morgan.

The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission is one of the North-South Implementation Bodies established in 1999 arising from the British-Irish Agreement. This agency, since its establishment, has developed a most impressive array of initiatives to improve the management of fish stocks in both loughs. There are similar examples in Lough Erne as well, beside the Manor House in Enniskillen, where the fish stocks are attracting people to the fishing areas. We, in Monaghan, have benefited from that also because there is a deal between the two hotels that they can come to fish the lakes and stay in the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan. It is the type of cross-Border co-operation that we must move towards. Unfortunately, the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly has left the various agencies in a form of limbo in recent years. Let us hope that the Assembly and the North-South bodies will be up and running early in 2007 and can resume where they left off.

I have been frustrated by the pace of the Northern talks where the use of words and their meanings has been such that we would almost need to rewrite the Oxford English Dictionary. Those parties that benefited from the parties which took risks in the past now find that the cycle has come full circle and they must have the courage to take the same kind of risks as those taken by their predecessors. Parties that showed courage in the past paid the political price. There may be a fear in the two main parties in Northern Ireland that they will have to pay the political price for doing the right thing. While the talk may be of the police and others issues, this is the real issue that must be grappled with and I ask the parties to take the necessary risks as there is a great benefit to be achieved.

The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission has been instrumental in developing innovative genetic monitoring techniques for the assessment of salmon stocks. While Deputy Broughan mentioned difficulties in Donegal, these techniques have provided great benefits for the fishing industry in the loughs. An advisory forum was also established for the Loughs Agency, including representatives of shell-fishing, draft and drift-net fishing, fishery owners and tourism interests. The advisory forum also included environmentalists, local businesses and those working in agriculture and forestry around the loughs. Everybody working in the various local enterprises had the opportunity to have an input into the agency's policy decisions.

The Loughs Agency also constructed an interpretative centre at Prehen on the shores of Lough Foyle. This allows for the dissemination of information on the loughs, and on the work of the Loughs Agency, to the public. It is important that the public is tied into this and knows exactly what is happening. It is indisputable that the development of the loughs will provide an economic boost to the areas that are contiguous to both loughs which will benefit from increased tourism. This is about enlivening hinterland communities that have been denied financial success in the past. We know of towns, like Clones for example, that suffered because of the Border division. This Bill provides opportunities to overcome this problem. It is particularly relevant to the Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh areas where there are many lakes and much marine activity. It is important to get this agency moving.

I note that the Bill provides for the licensing and regulation of aquaculture operations in the areas of both loughs, with an appeals board to deal with appeals and disputes over decisions. Global farmed fish production now totals almost 42 million tonnes and the FAO estimates that aquaculture will supply more than half of all fish consumed worldwide by 2030. That is a huge boost for people in Border areas and its hinterland.

Irish aquaculture has significant development potential to capitalise on strong European and global demand and it provides a stable source of raw material for the fish processing sector. The processing sector continues to expand and represents some 30% of the total value of Irish seafood output. I welcome the Bill's provisions in relation to aquaculture and believe that it will facilitate the sustainable development of aquaculture into the future.

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