Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:

Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2008,

copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 25 November 2008.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the motion on the Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2008. At present the management and development of the inland fisheries sector resides with the Central Fisheries Board and the seven regional fisheries boards. Members are aware that elections to the regional fisheries boards are due to take place on 16 December 2008 following an extension 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 existing boards will fall.

It is not my intention for these boards to continue in existence indefinitely and I am making this proposition with the real prospect of having a restructured streamlined alternative in place for the inland fisheries service during 2009. This will be delivered in the context of the Government's rationalisation of State agencies generally.

In 2005, on foot of an independent review of the inland fisheries sector in Ireland, my predecessor announced plans for significant restructuring of the sector. However, due to the complexity of the legislation required to implement the proposals and competing priorities, it did not prove possible to introduce the required legislation within the original timeframe envisaged.

The proposals put forward in 2005 met with a lot of opposition from all stakeholders and this alternative initiative was considered to represent a deliverable prospect for real change within the sector. Representatives from the central and regional fisheries boards worked with officials from the Department in developing these proposals and the legislation required to give effect to them in the early part of 2008. The Minister's consideration of the finalised proposals was, however, overtaken by the review of State bodies by the Department of Finance, announced in July.

On foot of that review, the Minister for Finance announced in the budget on 14 October that the Government had decided to reduce the number of State bodies and agencies by 41. As part of this rationalisation process, a new national inland fisheries body is to be established, which will replace the existing central and seven regional fisheries boards. The eight existing trout and coarse fisheries co-operative societies will also be affected under these restructuring proposals. This decision has superseded all other proposals under consideration for the future of the sector and will be implemented without delay. A deadline of August 2009 has been set for the vesting day of the new organisation.

Following the announcement on budget day, I, along with the Minister and officials from the Department, met with the CEOs of the central and regional fisheries boards to outline the Government decision and ensure their support in implementing it. Following that meeting, a small group, chaired by the Department and with representation on behalf of the existing boards, was established to guide the implementation of the decision. The group comprises two officials from the Department, the CEO and HR director of the Central Fisheries Board and two of the regional fisheries boards' CEOs. This group is developing the key features of the new model and has advised on the legislative provisions required to deliver the new regime. It will also devise appropriate transitional arrangements to ensure the smooth changeover to the new structures next year. The group is meeting for the fourth time today and I am pleased to say is making good progress towards meeting the target of August 2009 for the establishment of the new body. I am confident that an effective system can be put in place under the auspices of the new body which will ensure that the important work relating to the inland fishery resource will be implemented efficiently.

While the proposal involves the creation of a single national authority, the Government is committed to maintaining a strong regional input into the management of inland fisheries. It is clear from the nature of the inland fisheries work that the new body will require a strong regional presence. Amending legislation will be required to give effect to the new structures and in this regard the Department is well advanced in the process of drawing up a draft scheme of the Bill. It is hoped this will be submitted to Government for approval in the coming weeks.

I reiterate that the terms and conditions of employment of the staff of the central and regional fisheries boards will not be any less favourable than those currently obtaining. It is intended that staff will be afforded specific statutory protection in this case.

Outside the context of providing the legislation necessary to facilitate the new structures, a separate examination is also being undertaken as to how the existing 17 pieces of legislation governing the inland fisheries sector, which date back to 1959, can be modernised and consolidated into a single statute. As the House will appreciate, there is a considerable amount of work involved in such an exercise. A sub-group of the National Fisheries Management Executive has been established to ensure that those dealing with the consolidated legislation at an operational level will have an input into proposals for the new legislation that will govern the sector. This group is working closely with the Department on developing legislative proposals and will examine areas such as licensing, rates and conservation imperatives as part of their deliberations. I hope to be in a position to bring forward proposals for that legislation late next year.

In the meantime, the focused effort of the Department will be on the legislation enabling the establishment of the new inland fisheries authority. It is my intention, subject to Government approval, to publish the draft heads of the Bill as soon as they have been approved.

I recognise the valuable contribution made by the existing members of the boards to the inland fisheries in their regions. I thank them all for their efforts over the years. Given the significant changes that will be experienced by the sector in the coming year, I am anxious that they would be given an opportunity to maintain that important role not only in ensuring a continuing input to the work of the regional boards, but also in ensuring a smooth transition to the new structures.

Accordingly, I am proposing to postpone the elections to the regional fisheries boards for a further year in accordance with section 15 of the Fisheries Act 1980. I wish to advise the House that postponing the elections until 2009 is the only mechanism available to me within the existing statue to provide for the continuation of the existing boards until the establishment of the new body next August.

The order will extend the term of office of the existing board members for a further year or until vesting day of the new authority, which I expect to be in August 2009, at which time the boards will cease to exist. The order will also result in the postponement of elections to co-operative societies. This will facilitate the continued contribution from those individuals directly involved in overseeing the service, who will have a key role to play in advancing the restructuring of the sector.

While I am fully committed to the restructuring of the sector, I recognise that there will be challenges in bringing it about. The changes to the sector will be progressed on an open and transparent basis. I thank the members of the implementation group, who have been working hard in that regard. Last week, I met members of the fishing industry, where we discussed the process of restructuring and I was happy with the support I received from them. I thank Members for their co-operation and I trust the House will pass the motion approving the order to defer the elections.

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