Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I move:

"That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:

Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2007,

copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 8 November, 2007."

I welcome the opportunity to come before the House today to discuss the motion on the Regional Fisheries Board (Postponement of Elections) Order 2007. The management and development of the inland fisheries sector resides with the Central Fisheries Board and the seven Regional Fisheries Boards. Elections to the Regional Fisheries Boards are due to take place on 18 December 2007, following extensions agreed by the Oireachtas last year. However, I propose, subject to the approval of the Dáil and Seanad, to make an Order postponing elections for a further year. If this is not done, the boards will fall. By deferring the elections for a further year, the opportunity will be presented to work, in partnership with the existing Chairpersons and members of the Boards, on proposals for a more effective management structure for the sector.

I am encouraged by recent efforts by the fisheries boards liaison group at developing proposals for the future management of the sector. Significant progress can be made during 2008. The fisheries liaison group consists of the chairpersons and the chief executive officers of the central and regional fisheries boards. It is not my intention for these boards to continue in existence indefinitely, but there is a real prospect of advancing proposals to restructure the sector in the coming year and I do not want to miss this opportunity.

In 2005, on foot of an independent review of the inland fisheries sector in Ireland, my predecessor announced plans for the restructuring of the sector. Under that policy, the sector was to be re-organised by subsuming the existing Central and Regional Fisheries Boards into a single national inland fisheries authority. It is fair to say and it has been widely acknowledged among all parties that the management structures currently in place in the sector are not operating at an optimal level. There is a real need for change and a move towards a more effective, accountable and transparent management system.

An initiative undertaken by the fisheries boards liaison group regarding the proposed restructuring of the sector has recently been brought to my attention. On Friday last, I held an exploratory meeting with the chairpersons of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards to hear the broad terms of their proposals. Through further development of the proposals put forward, it may be possible to bring about an agreed programme for the restructuring of the sector which will result in more effective, accountable and transparent management systems. I have asked the sub-committee established by the liaison group to work with officials from my Department in drawing up detailed proposals over the next three months. If acceptable, I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval of these proposals in early 2008. In any event, this exercise is time bound. I expect that any new structures proposed will take account of Ireland's EU and international obligations, particularly the water framework and habitats directives.

In the context of providing the legislation necessary to facilitate the new structures, an examination is being undertaken on how the existing legislation governing the inland fisheries sector can be modernised and consolidated into a single statute. There are currently seventeen Acts governing the inland fisheries sector, dating back to 1959. Many provisions of the existing legislation are out of date and in some cases defunct. For some time there has been a consensus that the legislation should be updated. I am committed to producing one consolidated Bill for the inland fisheries sector which is in line with the Government's policy on better regulation. The new legislation will make provision for the new structures to be established as part of the agreed restructuring programme, and the updated and consolidated text will assist in the smooth transition to any new management structure.

A sub-group of the national fisheries management executive, which comprises the chief executives of the fisheries boards, has been established to ensure that those dealing with the legislation at an operational level will have an input into proposals for the legislation that will govern the sector. This group is working closely with the Department on developing the legislative proposals. The sub-group will examine areas such as licensing, rates, conservation imperatives and river catchment management plans as part of their deliberations.

The Government has recently appointed an interdepartmental group charged with overseeing the independent review of inland fisheries with a view to bringing it to a conclusion as soon as possible. The interdepartmental group consists of senior representatives from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. It is chaired by the Department of Finance. The composition of the group reflects the fact that our inland fisheries resource is affected by and crucial to a wide range of sectors and emphasises the importance of developing co-ordinated approaches to this resource. The establishment of this group, along with the initiatives under consideration, should ensure that significant progress is made in the coming year in advancing proposals to restructure the inland fisheries sector.

The fisheries boards and senior management accept that change is necessary and I am encouraged by their willingness to engage in discussions on much needed changes. However, these discussions are not open ended. If agreement cannot be reached within a few months, I will bring forward proposals.

The Government has long held the view that our wild salmon stock is a national asset that must be protected. One of the most positive developments in environmental management in recent years has been the moves to protect that stock through the introduction of a single stock management system. While that change has important benefits, it allows us to concentrate on the other key elements in the protection strategy, such as habitat management and obtaining scientific evidence to find out what is happening in the Atlantic to our salmon stocks. Failing to deliver that single stock management system would make it impossible to concentrate resources in the areas of water quality, habitat management and ocean science analysis. That is why it was a very significant scheme. I hope we can see the results of that when rivers are re-opened as stocks go above conservation levels. We should be able to show Ireland as a best-case example in the management of a resource that we are privileged to have, unlike so many other countries.

In recognition of the implications of alignment with the scientific advice, my predecessor also put in place a fund to address the financial hardship that will be experienced by the commercial netting sector. The salmon hardship scheme is intended to provide a measure of relief to individuals in line with the level of hardship likely to be experienced based on recent catch history. The hardship fund of €25 million is available to all those former licence holders affected by the closure of the mixed stock fishery. The scheme is being administered by BIM and the regional fisheries boards and more than €8.5 million has been paid out to more than 600 applicants who have accepted offers made under the scheme. The closing date of 31 December 2007, until which applicants can obtain payment, is drawing near and I encourage those interested in availing of the scheme to submit their claims as soon as possible.

The Government has provided a fund of €5 million that will be available under a community support scheme. The focus of this measure is primarily those communities where drift net fishing had been a well-established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably impacts on their economic and social fabric. While the scheme is targeted on those affected by the ending of drift-netting, it also addresses those areas where other mixed stock fishing activities are affected. The scheme will be directed at the development of additional economic opportunities for crews and employees in the processing and ancillary sectors in the community. The scheme will be administered by the Leader companies through my Department in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

My Department is currently working on a suite of measures to be put in place through the fisheries boards for the management of the wild salmon fishery in 2008. I recently initiated the statutory 30-day consultation process on the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations. The new regulations provide for, among other things, revised total allowable harvest of salmon by commercial fishing nets, quotas for anglers and improved management on certain rivers which have been identified as requiring greater control and monitoring. Following on from measures introduced last year, total allowable catches will continue to be allocated on a river by river basis.

The draft regulations published for consultation show indicative figures for total allowable catches on individual rivers which are based on preliminary scientific advice. The final advice from the scientists is expected very shortly and the regulations will be amended to reflect this and will be published on my Department's website as soon as I receive them. I will introduce a number of by-laws which will provide for, among other things, angling bag limits, the conduct of catch-and-release and the closure for harvest of certain rivers that are not meeting conservation limits.

The fisheries boards, management and staff are to be commended for the excellent work they have undertaken in managing the significant change to the operation of the wild salmon fishery. They have accomplished an onerous task over the past year in a compassionate and understanding manner in partnership with the myriad stakeholders who share the salmon resource. There are equally challenging initiatives to be pursued in the management of coarse fish and undertaking their role in the monitoring of fish stocks and water quality under the water framework directive.

Given the speed at which changes are happening in the sector in terms of conservation efforts, I am anxious that, in view of their valuable contribution, the existing members of the regional fisheries boards would be given an opportunity to play a key role, not only in ensuring a continuing input to the work of the regional boards, but in advancing the proposals to restructure the sector. Accordingly, I propose to postpone the elections to the regional fisheries boards for a further year in accordance with section 15 of the Fisheries Act 1980. This will facilitate the continued contribution from those directly involved in overseeing the service, whom I feel will have a key role in advancing restructuring of the sector. They are committed to appropriate changes. This order, when made, will also result in the postponement of elections to co-operative societies. The position of the co-operative societies will be addressed in the context of the new legislation to be introduced.

It is my firm belief that, through the newly appointed interdepartmental group, proposals to restructure the sector can be significantly advanced over the coming months thereby allowing the sector to reach its full potential through more coherent and consistent policy making and resource allocation. While I am committed to the restructuring of the sector, I recognise that there will be significant challenges in bringing it about. The changes to the inland fisheries sector will be progressed on an open and transparent basis to ensure as much involvement as possible by as wide a range of stakeholders as possible. I trust that the House will pass the motion approving the order to defer the elections.

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