David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is impossible to work on a riverbank from March to September and from September to March. A grand plan for opening out the dendrites is required. This does not mean 5 km or 10 km per major river. A good start would be to apply the law to Coillte, followed by a reseeding of the dendrites using quick-lock vibred boxes. All of this could be done in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills and become part of the junior certificate science curriculum. This involves capturing ripe fish in the autumn, stripping them and placing their fertilised ovum in specially designed boxes buried in the gravel. Those fish that return to spawn will seek out the very tributaries they were born in and the cycle will become self perpetuating. Doing this will not affect hatcheries. It is an environmentally friendly system.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence.