Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I was caught off guard on amendment No. 11, although I stand over what I said about the Minister partially addressing the issue. I am concerned that under this section the Minister has the power to change radically by ministerial order the way in which inland fisheries are managed. All we are doing in this Bill by way of setting up a new inland fisheries management structure and creating six river basin districts can be set aside by the Minister under this section if he chooses to do so for any reason. My concern was that this power should not be in legislation without there being some form of check on the process. That is why the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, recognised on Committee Stage that if a decision of the magnitude I describe were to be made, thereby ditching the rest of this Bill, the Minister would at least be required to consult the joint committee beforehand. That is the background to the amendments.

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