Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome you, a Chathaoirligh, to the Chair officially at the start of the season. I also welcome the new Leader and wish her well for the term ahead in the next two and half years or so.

On numerous occasions I have raised the issue of Inland Fisheries Ireland. I thought I would not need to start the new year talking about Inland Fisheries Ireland, but unfortunately I do. Last year there were three resignations from the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, including the chairman. Already this year there have been two resignations from the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, including the interim chairperson. It is safe to say that when any board has five resignations in the space of eight or nine months there are questions to be asked. The Minister must ask these questions of the Department officials. Why have those who have day-to-day responsibility for the running of the fisheries section within his Department not advised him to appoint members to the board?

Section 19(2) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 states: "If an appointed member resigns, dies, ceases to hold office (other than on completing a term of office), ceases to be qualified for office or is removed from office, the Minister shall as soon as practicable appoint a person to fill the casual vacancy so occasioned". The Minister is very busy and has considerable responsibilities. However, certainly his officials have day-to-day responsibility in the Department for the running and oversight of Inland Fisheries Ireland.All public servants and State agencies must be accountable to a board. I am calling for a debate on the matter of Inland Fisheries Ireland. I also ask the Minister to make emergency appointments to the IFI board to allow it to carry out its duties and all the requirements of oversight. The oversight provided by boards is important in respect of the higher echelons of the agency for which they are responsible. Boards also have a role to play in liaising with the Minister, policy, implementing the corporate plan and every other responsibility they have. There are issues in respect of the appointments to the board. It is important. One hears things on the grapevine in these Houses and I am concerned that the Minister may now be advised by his officials to dissolve the board and start again. That is not going to solve the issues. Those issues and problems are not with the board. The board is doing its jobs. It was investigated by Mr. Conleth Bradley, senior counsel, last year, which was reported. Mr. Bradley found nothing adverse in that regard. The board is not the problem. The Minister needs to know and accept that. The board is not the problem.