Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the report of the joint committee and the submissions made to it. I have listened with interest to the major part of this debate and the wide divergence of opinions expressed as to how we can tackle the problem.

A number of weeks ago a deputation came to my clinic in Lismore representing angling, hotel and tourism interests in the area. The group made a professional presentation and outlined the decrease in salmon stocks, in particular in the Blackwater River, over the past number of years. The same is happening in most parts of the country. This affects businesses such as services to anglers, bed and breakfast establishments, and hotels. Businesses have had to let people go.

This is a major problem. Like the Minister of State, I believe our salmon stocks are a national asset that must be conserved and protected. No matter what side of the fence one is on in this debate, we all believe there must be more conservation and protection of salmon stocks.

Pollution is a major problem in some rivers. Poaching, seals and cormorants have also been mentioned as causing a problem. There is no doubt, however, that drift netting is probably the greatest problem where salmon stocks are concerned. As previous speakers noted, my party favours a voluntary buyout or set-aside, which the Minister of State should consider at an early stage. As Senator Kenneally outlined, the vast majority of people in many areas, particularly in the south east, would avail of a voluntary cessation and buyout. This must be part of any solution to the problem.

It is estimated that salmon fishing is worth €55 million to the economy. The decline in anglers visiting Ireland from 54,000 in 1999 to 27,000 in 2004 must cause concern. It must pose a major problem for tourism interests in areas connected with angling around the country. The Minister of State mentioned that it is far more beneficial and economical to have fish caught by the rod rather than through drift netting. The livelihoods of people around the coast must be considered in any buyout, which is why Fine Gael believes any buyout should be voluntary. Telling people to stop all drift netting immediately would not be a sensible policy. We would make great strides in conservation with the reduction we would achieve if a voluntary buyout or set-aside were introduced.

Previous speakers have alluded to the coverage of angling in Ireland in international magazines, about which I am concerned. Trout and Salmon, a UK angling magazine, called us international outlaws because of our attitude to salmon. Articles like these, which tell people there is no point in visiting Ireland because there are no fish, will not encourage people to visit this country. Some visitors from Germany told me recently they were here despite reading in magazines that there were no fish left in Ireland. They enjoyed their visit but caught very few fish. Anglers read these magazines and this type of negative information about Ireland will have a devastating effect on the number of anglers visiting the country.

The Minister should immediately opt for a voluntary buyout. Most people regard waiting until 2007 to introduce a buyout as kicking to touch. What is the Government waiting for? We have had numerous reports on this issue and all it requires is a decision. The Government should not use science as a refuge in order to prevent the introduction of necessary measures. The sooner the Minister opts for the voluntary buyout and set-aside, the better it is for conservation, anglers and fishermen throughout the country.