Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I welcome the opportunity to outline to the House the rationale behind the motion. Responsibility for the management and development of the inland fisheries sector resides with the Central Fisheries Board and the seven regional boards. Members will be aware that elections to the regional fisheries boards are due to take place on 16 December following an extension agreed by the Oireachtas last year. However, I propose, subject to the approval of the Dáil and Seanad, to make an order postponing the elections for a further year. I am making this proposition with the very real prospect of having a restructured streamlined alternative in place for the inland fisheries service during 2009. The latter will be delivered in the context of the Government's rationalisation of State agencies in general. In 2005, on foot of an independent review of the inland fisheries sector, my predecessor announced plans for significant restructuring of the sector. However, due to the complexity of the legislation required to implement the proposals and competing priorities, it did not prove possible to introduce the required legislation within the original timeframe envisaged.

In seeking sanction to postpone the elections in 2007 I advised of a new initiative being undertaken by the boards of the inland fisheries sector in respect of the proposed restructuring of the sector. This was to be developed in detail during 2008. Representatives of the Central Fisheries Board and the regional boards worked with officials of the Department in developing these proposals in the early part of this year. My consideration of the finalised proposals was, however, overtaken by the review of the Department of Finance of State bodies announced in July. As the House will be aware, on foot of that review, the Minister for Finance announced in budget 2009 that the Government had decided to reduce the number of State bodies and agencies by 41. As part of this rationalisation process, a new national inland fisheries body is to be established to replace the existing Central Fisheries Board and the seven regional boards. The eight existing trout and coarse fisheries co-operative societies will also be affected under these restructuring proposals. This decision has superseded all other proposals under consideration for the future of the sector and will be implemented without delay. A deadline of August 2009 has been set for vesting day of the new organisation. A small group, chaired by my Department and with representatives of the existing boards, has been established to guide implementation of the decision. This group is developing the key features of the new model and has advised on the legislative provisions required to deliver the new regime. It will also devise appropriate transitional arrangements in order to ensure the smooth changeover to the new structures next year.

While the proposal involves the creation of a single national authority, I must stress that the Government is committed to maintaining a strong regional input into the management of inland fisheries. Amending legislation will be required to give effect to the new structures and the Department is well advanced in the process of drawing up the draft scheme of a Bill. It is hoped this will be submitted to the Government for approval in the coming weeks.

Outside of providing the legislation necessary to facilitate the new structures, a separate examination is also being undertaken of how the existing 17 items of legislation governing the inland fisheries sector which date back to 1959 can be modernised and consolidated into a single statute. I hope to be in a position to bring forward proposals for legislation in this regard late next year. In the interim, the focused effort of the Department will be on the legislation enabling the establishment of the new inland fisheries authority.

I recognise the valuable contribution made by the members of the existing boards to the inland fisheries in their regions. I am anxious that they be given an opportunity to maintain that important role, not only in ensuring a continuing input to the work of the regional boards but also in ensuring a smooth transition to the new structures. Accordingly, I propose to postpone the elections to the regional fisheries boards for a further year. This is the only option open to me in accordance with section 15 of the Fisheries Act 1980. When made, the order will extend the term of office of the existing board members for a further year or until the vesting day of the new authority which I expect will be in August 2009, at which time the boards will cease to exist. The order will also result in the postponement of elections to co-operative societies.

While I am fully committed to the restructuring of the sector, I recognise that there will be challenges in bringing this about. I take the opportunity to emphasise that the changes to the sector will be progressed on an open and transparent basis. I trust the House will pass the motion approving the order to defer the elections.