John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I join Deputy Broughan in expressing sympathy to the families of those lost at sea. I visited the families on a number of occasions and witnessed at first hand the grief suffered as a result of the tragedies along our coast, particularly at Dunmore East.

I have no problem debating the Cawley report in the House given that it contains good news. If the Whips can arrange the debate, we will certainly facilitate it.

Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, concern the composition of the former Foyle Fishery Commission and Foyle Advisory Council, as provided in the Third and Fourth Schedules, respectively, to the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952. The amendments are concerned with ensuring stakeholders or representatives are consulted on issues of concern to them. The provisions of the Third and Fourth Schedules were repealed by the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, which established the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. The 1999 Act provides for the composition of the commission.

The principle informing the Deputy's proposed amendments, which is that stakeholders should be consulted on issues of concern to them, was shared by the North-South Ministerial Council, which directed that the Foyle and Carlingford Area Advisory Forum be established. The current forum has 48 members, including recreational and commercial salmon fishermen, wild shellfish fishermen, aquaculturalists, environmentalists and hospitality providers. There are three working groups working on the agency's proposals in respect of the salmon fisheries for 2007, the agency's proposals for a marine and water-based leisure strategy, and the roll-out ofaquaculture licensing and its interface with the loughs' wild fisheries.

The Deputy wants to ensure that people's views, including those of the stakeholders, are considered in the development of future plans for the area. His concerns are addressed adequately by the arrangements I have outlined and, accordingly, I do not propose to accept his amendments. As the advisory forum was established under the direction of the North-South Ministerial Council, it is open to the latter to consider how it is working. Creating a body comprising elected representatives would require new legislation.

The Loughs Agency has published its proposals to end indiscriminate mixed-stock salmon fishing, as required by the habitats directive. This issue was raised by Deputy Perry. No decisions have been made on the number of licences or the criteria to be applied in allocating them. The North-South Ministerial Council will have to approve any regulations to implement changes in the licensing regime. I am well aware of the voisinage agreement the Deputy mentions, but this is sub judice, as it is the subject of court proceedings, so I cannot comment on that.

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