Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which has been examined by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and is not considered to be one that can be appropriately included in primary legislation. Primary legislation in the inland fisheries area generally sets out a framework for the vires of the relevant Minister to enact secondary legislation to encompass fisheries management matters. Primary legislation is generally not prescriptive in terms of detailed management interventions. The Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Canney, has asked it to reflect on the advice received and the outcome of recent court proceedings in the context of the intended by-laws. It must be emphasised that as a matter of policy the lakes in question have long been designated for management, primarily for the benefit of wild brown trout, and that policy designation remains. Inland Fisheries Ireland has advised that stock management plans for the lakes for 2019 have been approved by its board.

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