Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments and I understand the frustration he feels, along with the level of concern expressed at the public meeting last night in Mullingar, with representatives attending from all over the country. They represented the fishing rivers in Dublin, Louth, Mayo, Galway and other places. Although the facilities in Cullion and Roscrea are doing a job, there have been decades of under-investment. I have seen the facility at Cullion but I have not been to the Roscrea facility. The Cullion facility is functioning, as I noted at the meeting, but it is antiquated and needs investment, particularly in the existing buildings.

I raised the issue of public consultation but when I met the board on 30 June, I was not informed by anybody - either the chief executive officer or any member of the board - that a week later the public consultation would be advertised as a fait accompli. The Deputy is correct in that there are 50 years of research and breeding in the facilities. I advocated to the board and chief executive officer that before any decision should have been considered regarding any cessation, there should have been a plan to ensure the valuable fish stock and resources being put into the rivers locally would be replaced with an alternative. There is none, as far as I can see. There is talk of private operators but there is no clear alternative in place. Once the chief executive officer is back from the break I will sit down with him and the chairman to push the issue of planning further. There is widespread disquiet and I have extended the period of consultation to 19 September. I hope to use that period to consult further about the future. I recognise the Deputy and thank him for the invitation to yesterday's meeting and to visit the facilities in Cullion.

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