Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for being here to respond. My matter relates to fisheries in the Cromane Bay, particularly Castlemaine Harbour. On Tuesday of last week, the draft netsmen had a licence to go fishing. At 5 p.m. on Monday of last week, they received notification that they could proceed to fish. However, the South Western Regional Fisheries Board received an e-mail from the Minister at 8 p.m. on that day, announcing that he intended to introduce a by-law to stop them from fishing. When I raised this matter last week with the Taoiseach, who has said he wants to get business done in a proper fashion, I asked him whether this was an example of the best way to do business. The netsmen thought they would be able to go fishing on Tuesday, but by Wednesday morning a by-law had been introduced to prevent them doing so. The Taoiseach said he understood that the Minister had introduced the by-law on the basis of scientific information. I have the information in question in front of me. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Minister has made this change.

The three rivers in question are the Caragh, the Laune and the Maine. I accept that there is a problem with salmon stocks on the River Maine. I have seen a map, which forms part of the scientific evidence on the basis of which the Minister made his decision. A line on the map represents an avenue used by salmon to get to the River Maine. In no way does it represent an interference with the journey of the salmon to the River Maine. Last year's surplus for the River Caragh was 1,121. The conservation limit was 531. One does not have to be great at mathematics to realise there was a surplus of approximately 600. The surplus on the River Laune last year was 7,265 salmon. There is a draft net quota for 6,166 salmon. However, the Minister will not allow the draft men to fish. I am in favour of the anglers being able to catch salmon with their tags, etc. I believe they can live in harmony given that there was a surplus last year of 7,265 and a draft net quota of 6,166. It must be admitted that those figures emerged as a consequence of the abolition of drift net fishing. When one has a conservation limit, and there is a quota of 7,265 above that, those salmon can be caught by private licence holders but not by commercial licence holders. I cannot understand why such discrimination exists.

I have a big problem with one of the people advising the Minister. The person in question, who is on the Central Fisheries Board, went to the High Court recently to claim that he owns the River Caragh. He lost the case. He is one of the many people on the Central Fisheries Board who is advising the Minister. He has a conflict of interest, which is not right or proper. It is not the proper fashion in which to do business, as the Taoiseach might say.

The Laune and Caragh rivers have had a surplus since 2006 and 2007, respectively, as a consequence of the abolition of drift netting. I believe that angling and draft fishing can live in harmony. I ask the Minister to rescind his by-law. I understand that the matter is to be raised in the High Court next Friday. I do not think it should go that far.

See this speech in context