Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the issue raised by my colleague Senator Kyne regarding Inland Fisheries Ireland. I salute him for continually referencing this issue and the concerns about the governance of that body. Before coming to the House this morning, I read the transcript of his contribution in the House on 24 November 2022. I would stop somewhat short of describing anyone in Inland Fisheries Ireland as rotten or corrupt but the language the Senator used demonstrated his concern.

There are serious concerns to address. A number of whistleblowers raised concerns regarding this organisation and the Senator has raised many concerns in this House. They are perhaps the strongest concerns I have ever heard raised in my time in the House about any organisation. We have an oversight agreement and a delivery agreement between the Minister and Inland Fisheries Ireland and we also have a code of business conduct for the board of that body. After all of that, why have the issues of responsibility, accountability and allocation of budgets, resources and personnel not been addressed? Why have the issues around integrity, transparency, public concern and lack of confidence and potential conflicts of interest, whether actual or perceived, in this organisation not been addressed?

I join Senator Kyne in asking for a debate and statements. I do not accept the Minister, Deputy Ryan, not coming to the House. We have the Order of Business here every day. I am flagging to the Leader now, rather than have it come as a surprise to her, that I may bring forward a proposal on the Order of Business tomorrow, or perhaps an amendment, calling on the Minister to attend the Chamber for such a debate. I hope everyone in the House will support Senator Kyne in that call. I certainly do and I will make a case for others to do the same. I ask that we unite in our strength in this House tomorrow by putting in a formal request for the Minister to come to the House, if not this week then next week. I want to be reasonable and fair but Senator Kyne has raised serious issues. He is a member of one of the Government parties. He deserves a full response, as does the public. I will reflect on this matter and talk to the Leader later in the day. We should work together to ensure the Minister comes to the House to give some sort of statement and that we have some sort of debate on Inland Fisheries Ireland. It is an important issue.