Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

For the past four years, the statutory requirement to hold elections for the regional fisheries boards has been postponed. This was subject to great criticism when the current Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was in Opposition. At the very least we had a Minister of State dealing with the issue, although the legislation was expected around December 2008. I note that it has now been pushed to the end of 2009.

Will the Taoiseach explain who is now responsible as poor Deputy Seán Power has lost his place? At least he was dealing with the issue and having looked at the list, there is nobody with a dedicated role of dealing with the management of restructuring that must take place. The promise was that a new structure would be in place for inland fisheries by the summer but will the Taoiseach stand over that? This matter has been ongoing for four years.

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