Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I have had some correspondence and have met with oyster fishermen in the Clarinbridge area. They have a good working relationship with the State agencies overseeing them such as Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. They do a small amount of commercial fishing. It is something that has been passed down through the generations. As a former Minister of State with responsibility for inland fisheries, I was happy to be able to assist with some licensing issues to ensure the oyster fisheries continue in that area.

They have a few concerns regarding what they deem to be over-regulation, with two State agencies effectively responsible for monitoring them and all that goes with it, in some cases, for a very small number of days of fishing. They believe that there should be a single inspection point and that there should be some collaboration between Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. I know the two agencies fall under different Departments. However, it does not make much sense to have one agency engaging with them in the afternoon and another agency engaging with them in the evening when they come ashore with their catch.

In the case of the wild fishery, we are talking about a small number of days fishing in the year. It is over-regulation. If we consider that there are large international supertrawlers out at sea, and God knows what is going on in some cases with them, and yet small numbers of local lads are out there fishing who have high costs associated with the over-regulation of their sector, I think it could be done in a better way. Is there any possibility of collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which has responsibilities for Inland Fisheries Ireland, to make life somewhat simpler for them? They obviously understand the need for safety, food quality and abiding by regulations. However, I think there could be a better, simpler and easier way to assist those involved in what is a small but important industry which has long roots in the past and, it is to be hoped, a good future as well.