Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

): The purpose of the subsection to which the amendment refers is to oblige Inland Fisheries Ireland to establish and manage a national inland fisheries forum, the terms of reference of which would be subject to the agreement of the Minister. This forum is seen as a means of formalising interest group input into policy formulation and will act as a conduit to provide advice and inform policy deliberation on the conservation, protection and management of all inland fisheries species.

The Senator is seeking to have the terms of reference of this forum subject to consultation with the relevant joint Oireachtas committee. As previously stated, the establishment and management of this forum is primarily an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland. Given the Department's corporate governance role over this body, the legislation makes provision for the terms of reference to be subject to the agreement of the Minister. It is neither appropriate nor necessary for the joint Oireachtas committee to be part of that process. The agreement of the Minister should be sufficient to ensure the terms of reference are fit for purpose. Any additional consultation requirements could unnecessarily delay or complicate the establishment of the forum.

I already gave an undertaking during the passage of the Bill in the other House to have the draft terms of reference for the forum circulated to members of the joint Oireachtas committee for their information. I expect the terms of reference will be circulated to members shortly.

There is nothing to prevent the joint Oireachtas committee making a submission to the Department or Inland Fisheries Ireland on the operation of the forum and I assure the House that any submission received will be given full and due consideration. It is not appropriate to legislate for consultation with the joint Oireachtas committee on what is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland. Accordingly, I cannot accept the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 7 agreed to.

Section 8 agreed to.

SECTION 9.