Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

——we are at today. The independent review which was mentioned also recommended a single authority so I am convinced that what we are doing is the correct path to take.

The commitment we have made to existing staff is limited to terms and conditions and not to their future roles in a new organisation. That will obviously change.

We have had meetings with the Loughs Agency. All actions taken by the agency must be approved by the appropriate Ministers both North and South. It is something we are working on and which we can build upon.

I made the point at last week's meeting in Leinster House with industry representatives that despite the change that is taking place, we will continue to place great emphasis on the regions. In that context, a certain amount of the co-operation that is taking place in the regions will continue. Instead of a chief executive officer, we will have regional managers who will not have the difficulty and demand on their time of managing and working with a regional board. Instead, they will only have to consult and work directly with one central board. This will afford them more time to work with local fishermen and fishing organisations, thus enhancing the traditional co-operation we have had in the past.

I cannot answer Deputy McManus's query regarding the wording of the order but will undertake to have the matter examined in detail. The order itself is being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel of the Office of the Attorney General. It is possible that the original Act may have been amended, which could account for the change in the section numbers to which the Deputy referred.

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