Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I think amendments Nos. 1 to 3 are akin to amendment No. 17. The stakeholders, the people who fish the area, should be central to this and should have a significant voice. There should be as much gender equality as possible or practicable. I understand the value in hearing outside voices on the matter but, in the context of the agency in question, the history of distrust means people who know the area best should have a voice. I do not wish to detract from people currently on the advisory board.

I want the Minister to know that people in Inishowen and the Foyle region generally are anxious to have their voices heard with regard to the Bill and how it is formulated. A key concern is that it should not mean a hand-over of all power to any particular agency but that the Minister and the Department should have as much interest after this Bill is passed as they had during the weeks spent putting it through Committee and Report Stages.

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