Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects to bring forward legislation to merge the central and regional fisheries boards into a single national fisheries board; if he will clarify the person under whose remit these areas fall; the position in relation to decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18705/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 12 March 2009, the progress he has made in the drafting of the Inland Fisheries Sector Bill; if he is on target to have the new fisheries authority operational by the end of 2009; the number of submissions he has received since the publication of the draft heads of Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18658/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 108 together.

Following the 2009 budget day announcement on 14 October 2008 on the rationalisation of State agencies, the Government has now formally approved proposals for the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector, which include the creation of a single strengthened national inland fisheries authority to be known as inland fisheries Ireland. This authority will replace the existing central and seven regional fisheries boards. Given the nature of its work the new authority will of course continue to have a strong regional presence.

A restructuring implementation group, which includes representatives of the central and regional fisheries boards, has been established and is developing the key features and structures of the model. Primary legislation is required to bring about this restructuring and in this regard a draft heads of Bill has recently been approved by Government. It is expected that the legislation will be published in late summer, be progressed through the Oireachtas later this year and that the new authority will be in place before the end of 2009.

The Department has recently circulated, through the fisheries boards, details of the draft heads of Bill and proposals for the restructuring of the sector to board members, management and staff of the central and regional fisheries boards and to other interested stakeholders. This information is also available on the Department's website. There has been no response to date to the documents circulated.

I am confident that the restructuring will result in an organisation better equipped to serve the needs of the inland fisheries sector.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I presume that because the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, has replied to this question, he is the person responsible for this, although his title did not include inland fisheries when his new appointment was announced whereas it was in the title of the lamented former Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power. I welcome the fact that there is somebody in charge.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is well used to the River Shannon.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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That it was not included in his title, however, showed the low status of the issue in the Department. The Minister of State must be aware that this is the second time that the heads of the Bill have been presented to Cabinet. Is he saying that although the legislation will not be taken until the autumn session it is realistic to presume that the new structure will be in place before the end of the year? There was nobody more critical of the deferral of elections than the Minister in 2007 when he spoke harshly about a predecessor, yet he is presiding over ongoing postponements of elections.

How much money will this restructuring save? What are the staffing requirements of this new structure? Will there be a voluntary redundancy scheme and what does it mean for senior staff within the existing regional boards? What are the savings in respect of accommodation? There was a proposal to decentralise to Carrick-on-Shannon and a history of serious waste of money on accommodation for the Central Fisheries Board. Will the Minister of State outline exactly the financial benefits of this proposal and how it will streamline the structures and accommodation needs?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Much of the structure and architecture of this area originated in the rod licence dispute which raged across the country for a long time and was resolved by the late and much lamented John Wilson. We are rationalising the boards because we are under a standing instruction from the Department of Finance to consider State agencies. The Fine Gael Party has made much of this push to remove or reduce the numbers of quangos or boards of one kind or another. This is my Department's contribution to the process. I am confident that we will put this new authority in place and that it will be up and running before the end of the year. That does not mean that people will lose their jobs. The heads of the Bill give specific statutory protection to some of the people working in the sector and for these boards. It is sensible and timely to remove the regional authorities and centralise them in one particular board. The board's membership will be reduced from 160 to ten. That is one saving that can be achieved. Having a proliferation of boards and agencies organising board meetings at seven regional locations throughout the country uses up a lot of the time of fisheries management officials. The change will save €300,000.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I have never heard such waffle. I asked a specific question and while I appreciate that the Minister of State is new in the job that is a disgraceful answer. If he is serious about streamlining Government and getting value for money the Minister of State needs to do better than that. Has nothing been learned from the setting up of the Health Service Executive? It started from the same base of amalgamating all the health boards to provide better value for money but we ended up with more money being wasted and a monster that does not seem to be able to manage its affairs in any way conceivable as good government. How much will be saved and what is the situation as regards staffing and accommodation and what will happen to the savings?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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It has been agreed that Ballina and Galway will stay open because of the range, size and scale of activity in those locations. We have identified a saving of at least €300,000 in respect of the reduced board membership. Further savings will follow and I will be delighted to update the Deputy on them as they accrue. The move to Carrick-on-Shannon is on hold in line with the decision to put all of the decentralisation project on hold.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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How many staff are in the existing boards and how many will there be when the process is concluded? There has been some resistance to the new authority. From where is it coming? What is the Minister of State doing to allay the fears expressed? How much responsibility will the new board have in formulating policy? Will it report directly to the Minister?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to remember that staffing will be managed carefully and that there will be the same number, or a similar number, of staff working in our fisheries resource at the end of this year. We are trying to streamline it by creating one single authority. The intention is that it will report to me, as Minister of State.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We had a heated discussion at the end of last year when the Minister brought forward a proposal to postpone again the elections for the positions on the fisheries boards. We were told at the time there was an absolute commitment that the new legislation and the new board structure would be in place by August this year. The Minister of State is now telling us he hopes to have the legislation in place by the end of the year.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I said "the new authority".

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Sorry, the new authority. Is it the case that the Minister of State is hoping to have the new authority in place by the end of the year in order that there will be no need to further postpone the elections to the current boards?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I hardly think it worthwhile going ahead with elections for regional boards which are to cease to exist.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Are the existing positions to be extended?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not clear why or how one would encourage such elections to take place.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Minister of State is not clear on the history of the matter.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I hope they will not go ahead but I will revert to the Deputy in detail on the matter.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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The Minister of State should inform himself because it is not up to the boards to make the decisions; it is he who must postpone the elections. It is part of secondary legislation and it is important that the Minister of State appreciate this. Does he not accept that there is disappointment about this matter? There are claims that the Government will streamline the system and ensure better value for money, yet, at the same time, the Minister of State is saying there will not be any reduction in staff and that the offices will remain open. I presume there will have to be new offices to accommodate the new structures and that new staff may have to be taken on. That is the experience for which the Minister of State has been partially responsible in setting up the HSE. It proved to be a very costly exercise in so-called restructuring. Perhaps the Minister of State will take this on board.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I would not be in favour of elections to bodies which are about to disappear or reach the end of their natural lifespan. Clearly, it would not be desirable to have elections to the bodies in question. The new authority, the remit of which will be to manage the inland fisheries resource, will be in place by the end of the year. To answer Deputy Stanton's question on industrial relations issues which I did not answer in full, such issues will naturally arise in respect of regional boards which are being abolished, given that the chief executives and other members of staff will be mindful of their positions being extinguished. It iin this area that the industrial relations difficulties will arise.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State believe he will be here at the end of the year?