Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

We must examine whether we can give them incentives to come. However, they will not come if there are no fish. This is a real opportunity but the decline in salmon population, certainly after the banning of drift net fishing, gives rise to much concern. We all thought it was the fault of drift net fishing but obviously it was not at total fault.

I am delighted to have had the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I have seen at first hand the decline in fishing in the River Feale, which is local to me, over the years. Once it was teeming with fish and was one of the top fishing rivers in Europe. It had been in angling magazines for decades but it has been removed because there are no fish in the river. It is hoped that the mechanism and structure proposed this evening can address issues and problems such as the decline of salmon and sea trout in the River Feale.

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