Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister clarify which Department and Minister will be responsible for the fisheries consolidation Bill, which is No. 32 on the legislative programme? It is the only fisheries legislation on it, yet it comes under the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The Government in its wisdom decided to split marine and fisheries and assign responsibility for fisheries with responsibility for agriculture. Yet if one checks the website of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, one will note that all the fisheries experts still remain in that Department. Who is dealing with fisheries policy? There seems to be great confusion within the industry as to who is doing so. Is it the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Coughlan, or the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan?

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