Results 841-860 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Scraggane Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with the local authority in the first instance. The Department in association with Kerry County Council have prepared a report on a proposed development at Scraggane Pier. Local fishermen and other pier users were consulted on an ongoing basis and expressed satisfaction with the...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (9 Nov 2006)

John Browne: I am in the process of compiling a list of all grant recipients, their locations, the grant amounts, species, production capacity and licence duration for each recipient. I will forward this directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Carlingford Lough is a designated shellfish water within the meaning of the European Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 268 of 2006), which implemented EU Directive 79/923/EEC of 30 October 1979 on the quality required of shellfish waters. At present Carlingford Lough is fully compliant with the water quality requirements of the Regulations and no breach of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: There are currently 19 locations with 21 operational fish counters in Irish Rivers including ESB owned and operated counters and Loughs Agency counters. Many of the counters were installed under the Tourism Operational Programme (TOP) of the Tourism Angling Measure (TAM) which occurred between 1995 and 2000. A number of counters purchased under this programme were subsequently installed...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: The Deputy is aware that the Government adopted the key recommendations of the report by the Independent Group established to examine the implications of fully aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice in 2007 and beyond. The central recommendation of this report is the creation of a hardship fund for those affected by the compulsory cessation of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Under the Fisheries Acts, the central and regional fisheries boards are primarily responsible for the management and protection of fisheries including measures in relation to enforcement. The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Scheme, first introduced by the Department through the fisheries boards in 2002, is intended to inter alia identify illegally caught salmon, eliminate sales outlets for such...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: A review of the status of Irish sea trout stocks has been carried out by staff from the Central and Western Regional Fisheries Boards and the Marine Institute. The report will be published before Christmas. The paper will provide historical data and will update the national trap census and rod catch data from 1989 up to 2003. It will also provide an assessment of the current status of Irish...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: The Seafood Strategy Review Group was established by myself and the Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources in June 2006 with the objective of consulting with all stakeholders to devise a strategy for the 2007-13 period for the delivery of a sustainable and profitable seafood industry in Ireland. I expect to receive the report of the Seafood Strategy Review Group within the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the regional fisheries boards. Funding is allocated directly to each fisheries board from the vote of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. These funds are applied by the Fisheries boards towards their statutory...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: The Government's primary motivation is the conservation of the wild salmon species, which has long been regarded as one of Ireland's most prized fish. It is vital to afford every protection to the remaining salmon stocks and to clearly prioritise conservation over catch. The current imperative must be to maintain stocks above conservation limits or at the very least halt the observed decline....

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Scientific advice currently estimates that approximately 60,000 fish that might otherwise be taken in at-sea drift-net fishery may return to Irish rivers in 2007. Advice is not available to indicate the possible numbers that may return to waters outside the jurisdiction. The Government's primary motivation is the conservation of the wild salmon species, which has long been regarded as one of...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: I have been advised that roach were first introduced to Lough Corrib in the mid to late 1970s and have spread throughout the catchment since then, including Lough Mask. The roach is now naturalised in Ireland and scientific studies have shown that populations of roach fluctuate greatly, particularly after initial introduction. In certain years, due to favourable spawning conditions, the...

Written Answers — Shellfish Industry: Shellfish Industry (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: I have been advised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) that recent assessments of crab and lobster stocks undertaken by them indicate that both fisheries are fully exploited. In the case of lobster a number of biological and economic indicators used in the assessment and in discussion with industry suggest that further effort increases would erode profitability in the industry and increase the risk...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: The Marine Institute has advised me that there is overwhelming scientific evidence which shows that climate change, is a serious global threat and it demands an urgent global response. The earth's climate is rapidly changing, mainly as a result of increased greenhouse gases caused by human activities. The distribution and abundance of many marine species around Ireland are very sensitive to...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. Member States, under the EU Common Fisheries Policy framework routinely exchange quotas either on a "cod equivalent" basis or as agreed between the Member States. The European Commission is notified of all such quota swaps or exchanges and adjusts Member States' quotas accordingly. The catches of each Member State in respect of each...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: A National Salmon Coded Wire Tagging and Tag Recovery Programme was initiated in 1980 to estimate marine survival of Irish salmon stocks, exploitation rates of high seas fisheries and home water commercial and recreational fisheries. Since 1980, up to 200,000 salmon have been individually examined each year by the Marine Institute in over 30 locations around the country to identify coded wire...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the regional fisheries boards, in this case the Western Regional Fisheries Board. Funding is allocated directly to each fisheries board from the vote of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (14 Nov 2006)

John Browne: This case is currently being examined by the Office of the Ombudsman and has been the subject of communication between the Department and that Office. Until the Ombudsman's examination has been brought to finality it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the case.

Written Answers — Regional Fisheries Boards: Regional Fisheries Boards (15 Nov 2006)

John Browne: I recently received a letter from the chairman of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board, dated 7 November 2006, which set out the views of the board on the report of the Independent Group which was published on 24 October last. I have not yet had the opportunity to fully consider the views expressed in the letter or to respond directly to the board.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (15 Nov 2006)

John Browne: Following a lengthy public consultation process in 2004 on development options for Dunmore East Harbour, a planning application for a harbour development, together with an environmental impact statement, were prepared and submitted to Waterford County Council. Planning permission for the development of the Fishery Harbour Centre was received in late 2005. The cost of providing the new...