Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I wish to share my time with Deputy D'Arcy. Could the Leas-Cheann Comhairle please tell me when ten minutes have elapsed? I am glad we have the opportunity to debate this. Although it was discussed last week by the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, there are issues that need a debate and the opportunity for a vote in the Dáil. This is an opportunity for some general comments on the inland fisheries sector.

The Minister has been handed a hospital pass. What has not happened over the past two years is not his fault, however he is responsible for trying to sort it out. The Farrell Grant Sparks report was published in February 2005 and approved by the Government in December 2005, two years ago. The restructuring of the sector that report recommended has not progressed. The Minister seems to say we will postpone these elections to ensure the existing regional fisheries boards fall. We are doing away with regional fisheries boards without having the alternative structure in place to take over under a new management structure. Could the Minister address that concern? There is a fear that we are removing the existing structure without agreeing on the structure that will follow. That is not a sensible way to proceed. The Minister said we are close to agreement, and I welcome that. However in such negotiations one can be close to agreement for a long time. If the existing board structure falls in January, and if the Minister imposes his ideas on a new structure in mid-2008, as he says he must in the absence of agreement, what management structure will manage the inland fisheries and who will have responsibility after January?

See this speech in context