Results 41-60 of 5,685 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the regional fisheries boards. Is in my understanding that the recent protests by anglers in County Kerry relate to demands for access to public fisheries which are managed by the national parks and wildlife service on behalf of the Minister...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Primary responsibility for this matter rests with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Issues relating to the use of land within the port estate are primarily a matter for the Dublin Port Company and I understand that the port company is in the process of preparing a formal submission to Dublin City Council on the framework plan for the Poolbeg...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Following a decade of continuous expansion, the salmon farming industry has faced a number of difficulties over the past three years. The most significant of these has been a 30% drop in product prices as a result of distortion to the international market. Coinciding with this, Irish salmon farms have experienced exceptional mortality levels during 2003 and 2004. At a national level, higher...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Officials in my Department are engaged in bringing together the safety services provided by the Irish Coastguard and the maritime safety directorate into a single body for greater co-ordination and more effective and efficient delivery of services. As part of this process, the closure of one of the three marine rescue co-ordination centres, one of a number of key recommendations of...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Primary responsibility for road and rail infrastructure rests with my colleague, the Minister for Transport. In 2002, the new Department of Transport was established. While ports remained under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Department works closely with the Department of Transport on matters relating to transport policy, particularly those...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: While pair trawling does occur in the lower River Shannon candidate special area of conservation, SAC, I have been advised by the competent authority for the habitats directive, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, that the fishing effort is regarded as low and seasonal in nature with vessels pursuing mainly sprat during late autumn and winter in an outer portion...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: While I am aware of the difficulties arising from the works undertaken on the weir on the River Nore in Kilkenny city, this project was undertaken on behalf of, and is therefore the responsibility of, the Office of Public Works. Due to the impact the new installation was having on the passage of migrating salmon up river, the regional fisheries board and the engineering division of this...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The programme for the renewal of the whitefish fleet was introduced in 1998 as part of the Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-1999. The programme was operated by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and included grant aid for the introduction of new and modern second-hand whitefish vessels, modernisation of existing vessels and safety grants. Under the programme 29 new vessels were grant aided, ranging...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the conservation and management of salmon stocks rests with the relevant regional fisheries board, which in this case is the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board. I am advised by the board that data on the total run of salmon into the rivers Liffey and Boyne are provided by counters managed by the board and the Marine Institute. Information...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The market development division of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, is responsible for the market development of the Irish seafood sector. To this end it monitors the species and market sectors into which Irish seafood is sold. It compiles statistics on the market and in particular comprehensive data are available on the Irish market, which is considered the most important market for Irish seafood....

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the current management system for our quotas, officials from this Department meet industry representatives at the start of the year, and on a monthly basis thereafter, to discuss how best to manage the quotas available to us. On the basis of these discussions, management regimes are agreed and implemented for the individual stocks. The guiding principles of this process have been to...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The prosecution of hoax calls received by the Irish Coastguard is a matter for the Commissioners for Communications Regulation, ComReg, and the Garda Síochána. The Coastguard co-operates closely with Eircom emergency services, ComReg and the Garda Síochána in efforts to identify hoax callers and prosecute where possible. The Coastguard is aware of two cases where callers were identified...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 157 and 267 together. I am fully aware of the widespread concerns being expressed, not just by anglers, about the viability of salmon fishing in Ireland. While I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with anglers' representatives on the specific issue of drift net fishing, I am fully aware of their view that this method of fishing is having a damaging...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In July 2002, the Department requested all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the context of the 2003-2006 national coast protection programmes. Donegal County Council submitted a proposal relating to Maghery Beach...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: For many years, County Donegal, and in particular the Killybegs area, has been to the forefront of the Irish fishing industry, which has been a vital source of permanent and seasonal employment opportunities in coastal communities, as well as boosting the local economy through ancillary industries. Notwithstanding recent difficulties, I believe it will maintain this pre-eminent position in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The outcome of the EU Fisheries Council in December was generally satisfactory from an Irish viewpoint. My overall focus in these negotiations was to secure a deal that gave Irish fishermen the best possible range of fishing opportunities for 2005, taking account of the socio-economic needs of the industry and the necessity to maintain a sustainable approach. Close liaison was maintained with...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The Castletownbere harbour development project involves the provision of an extension to the existing wharf at Dinish Island and the construction of a new auction hall on this extension. The scope of the project has changed due to the need to deal with disposal of dredge spoil and the need to increase dredging levels at the existing Dinish wharf to take account of changes in vessels using the...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The Government's ports policy statement was launched on 6 January 2005. It is available to view on the Department's website. The policy aims to better equip the port sector and its stakeholders to meet national and regional capacity and service needs through: better transport policy co-ordination; clearer and more focused commercial mandates for the ports and their boards; reform of the...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Since the establishment of the maritime safety directorate in 2002, a number of important initiatives have been taken or are being taken to strengthen the maritime safety regime, particularly in relation to leisure craft. A Maritime Safety Bill to provide the necessary powers to assist local authorities in adopting regulations against the improper use of certain fast powered craft such as jet...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (8 Feb 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Safety standards for seagoing passenger and cargo vessels are developed and adopted at international level, principally from the Safety Conventions of the International Maritime Organisation and from initiatives at European level. Under Irish and international law all cargo vessels trading into and out of Irish ports are required to carry the appropriate certification to demonstrate...