Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

At the outset, I thank Deputies for allowing me to report back to the House at an early stage on the amendments introduced to the Bill on Committee and Report Stages in the Seanad.

These amendments concern the removal of the provisions excluding local authority members from becoming members of the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland. Amendment No. 1 removes section 40(1)(d), which provides that a member of Inland Fisheries Ireland must relinquish such membership on becoming a member of a local authority. I concurred with the arguments of Members of the other House and agreed that it was in order to remove this provision.

Amendment No. 2 is a consequential amendment that removes the clause in section 40(4) which disqualifies members of local authorities from becoming a member of Inland Fisheries Ireland. The prohibition is retained in respect of the chief executive officer position for Inland Fisheries Ireland.

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