Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Sinn Féin Party for tabling the Bill which is very much to be welcomed. It is a Bill I will support. I commend the Minister of State on the constructive approach the Government is taking on the Bill. It is an acknowledgement that we need to move forward in a considered way. The way the Minister of State is proposing to allow some time to effectively consider what exactly needs to be done is to be commended.

The one issue I wish to particularly raise is that of the Shannon fishery. The ESB has undoubtedly been one of the success stories of this State. I think I can claim without fear of contradiction that it is the most successful semi-State company in the country. ESB International is successful beyond our shores. Very few people would take issue with the success of the ESB.

However, it is not unfair to point out that the ESB has been considerably less successful with the management of the Shannon fishery, which is one of the largest inland state-owned fisheries in Europe. At the time of independence, pursuant to the Shannon Fisheries Act when it came under the ownership of the ESB because of Ardnacrusha, the fishery was a major resource for landowners adjacent to it. Families were fed by fishing the Shannon and it was a major tourism resource. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons that is no longer the case. Salmon stocks in particular have declined significantly. It is not just because of what the ESB has or has not done; there has been a decline right across the north Atlantic for which we cannot blame the ESB.

We need to take steps to ensure that when the Shannon is managed, it is managed as a navigation resource and is properly drained. Importantly, the ecosystem needs to be protected. Protecting the fishery and ensuring that responsibility for it is taken away from the ESB and it is managed as part of that management structure is key. We need to look at the effect Parteen weir has on fish, in particular fish not being able to pass Ardnacrusha. I appreciate the infrastructure required to address that issue will not be cheap.

Notwithstanding its profits and success over the years, the ESB has not put the necessary infrastructure in place, nor has it dredged rivers. All the tributaries of the Shannon also form part of the Shannon fishery. The ESB has had to be brought to the steps of the High Court on many occasions by small fishing clubs to get it to manage those rivers. Managing and dredging them to improve the trout and salmon hatcheries means they also drain better for the landowners adjacent to them in the winter. I do not want to take any more of the limited time. I commend both Sinn Féin and the Government on the approach they have taken. I urge that the Shannon fishery be managed by the new body.

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