Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

On Thursday last I tried to establish which Minister is responsible for legislation relating to the sea fisheries sector and received an ambiguous reply from the Tánaiste. Last week a ministerial order regarding safety on fishing boats was issued by the Minister for Transport and the Marine. On the section of the Order Paper relating to upcoming legislation, the only Bill relating to fisheries is listed in connection with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. We have a Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is taking control of coastal management. There is a great amount of confusion within the fishing industry as regards which Department has responsibility for the sea fisheries sector.

The answer I got last week from the Tánaiste was that it is the responsibility of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which would seem to be the case if one also looks at its website. However, could we receive some clarity on this point so that, for a start, the Opposition spokespersons know for which areas they have responsibility but, more important, we know which Ministers are responsible for upcoming legislation?

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