John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

It has taken us many years to get to the point where legislation related to the nation's freshwater resources is being introduced by the Government. The primary focus of the proposed Bill is on the problem of structure in the sector. In my view, it is an integrated solution with emphasis on freshwater fish but completely misses the big picture. National freshwater resources have not suffered from a lack of studies, reviews and reports over the years. Many of these studies and reviews in the inland fisheries sector were initiated in response to perceived problems with institutional arrangements such as regionalised management structures, strong involvement of local interests in decision making, complex issues of ownership, reliance on State funding and tensions between different stakeholders. Studies and reviews were also initiated in response to concerns of over-exploitation of fish stocks and threats to fish habitats from a variety of adverse environmental and water quality pressures.

I know that, having been involved with the ban on fishing and drift netting which was very commendable at the time. The ban on nets was very much welcomed and the conservation of salmon stocks was very much appreciated for the future. When one looks at the budget of €20 million for inland fisheries over the years, one sees that almost 95% was spent on administration. This area has been starved of money in many ways for years.

However, many of these studies and reviews looked only at selected aspects or at particular dimensions. Most of the reports encountered difficulty with regard to implementation of significant change because in many cases the different stakeholder interests in the sector are in conflict with one another and, in some instances, are mutually exclusive. Recognising the need for change in the sector, in 2003 the Department commissioned independent consultants to undertake a detailed examination of the State's role and objectives in the inland fisheries sector. The aim was to evaluate the adequacy of the current model for the governance of the sector and to recommend a structure that would contribute to the optimum development of the inland fisheries resource in Ireland.

The terms of reference for the 2003 study were wide ranging. The emphasis was to review the development issues in the sector, including the model for governance of the sector, funding arrangements, sector conservation and development, institutional arrangements, including roles and relationships, performance indicators, etc. The terms of reference also required the consultants to factor into their thinking the implementation of the EU water framework directive and the national spatial strategy with respect to the integration of inland fisheries considerations into land use planning.

This is very important when one considers the massive flooding at the moment, namely, land use flooding. That was the remit of the Farrell, Grant and Sparks report. One sees the devastation in all the counties on the news every evening where land plains were developed and rezoned for planning, including the massive building in Carrick-on-Shannon. It is like Venice there at the moment.

According to the consultants' report, it is clear the intention of the Minister of State and his Department was to commission a holistic, root and branch review of the sector which would lead to fundamental change and that there would be new thinking and innovative approaches in the future. However, this entire review exercise has been a disaster from the start. The consultants' report sat on the desk of the former Minister for the Marine for six months before it was finally published to widespread condemnation in November 2005. Strong stakeholder and industry resistance to the proposals were clearly evident from the beginning and there was little or no willingness to participate in consultations on the actions required to deliver the recommendations of the report. Those were two elements of the Farrell, Grant and Sparks report.

A period of confusion followed, with the development of alternative restructuring proposals to be considered by the Minister of State. These considerations came to an abrupt end with the current Government policy to rationalise State agencies, in particular, the budget day announcement in October 2008 that the existing central and regional fisheries boards were to be replaced by a single national authority.

After a review initiated in 2003, a report published in 2005 and four wasted years later, we are now back to a Government Bill that effectively implements the 2005 consultants' report. The Minister of State referred to the Department's overall policy of responsibility for conservation management, regulation and development of the inland fisheries sector, assisted in its mission by the central and regional fisheries boards, other agencies and the Marine Institute.

I have visited that institute and know it as a very fine development. Perhaps the Minister might indicate what its role in this body will be because it has a significant research facility. It is mentioned only in a small way. I would like the Minister of State to elaborate on the role of the Marine Institute, the locks agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the ESB. Perhaps he might get clarification from the ESB and come back to the House with it. He said that organisation has an important role in the sector.

The concerns on the Shannon at present are with the operation of the locks and the water levels. There are so many different agencies involved, the Nationals Parks and Wildlife Service, SSE, HEA and all the different authorities. Very many people deal with this area. Will the ESB have an involvement in the new forum that is now to be established? The Minister of State referred to North-South correlations. These will be beneficial in implementing the EU-sponsored measures in this sector. The Minister might elaborate on what he plans with the North-South development. There is a cross-Border institutional body dealing with this too. What plans has he got and what are the possibilities?

There are 150 members at present and the Minister of State plans to reduce that to nine, a considerable reduction. How will those numbers reflect the interests of the country and the opportunities for development? He stated that stakeholder involvement is vital at local level but must be properly structured and channelled to ensure that input from diverse and sometimes competing stakeholders can be utilised to best effect. He might indicate how that can be done.

One part of the Bill that I wholeheartedly welcome is the section that provides for inland fisheries Ireland to establish and manage a national inland fisheries forum. However, neither the Bill nor the Minister of State's press release provide any indication of the composition and terms of reference for the proposed forum. I ask the Minister to come back to the House on that point. I have long advocated a stronger role for stakeholders in the inland and marine sectors. Concerning tourism, Deputy Simon Coveney correctly stated the potential for development of the rivers must be examined.

I want to see a situation where fishermen, conservationists and all the stakeholders with a genuine interest in the sector are involved.

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