Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The question was really not about the NIFF or the RIFFs. The joint sub-committee compiled a report. It will be two years' in January since the report was published. The committee heard from a wide range of inshore fishing interests, and recommendations were made by an all-party committee of the Oireachtas. It seems to me that no discussion has been taking place within the Department. One of the recommendations called for by the inshore and island fishermen was that the committee would recommend the issuing of heritage licences, which it did. Almost two years later the Department has not done anything to examine the matter. It seems that the recommendation has not even been suggested by the Department to the inshore fisheries body to examine how the system could be developed and whether it would be feasible. Given the fact that an all-party Oireachtas committee report has recommended the approach, the Department should take it seriously.

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