Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the discussions he has had with a person who has offered to fund a commercial salmon drift net licence buy out (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that a meeting took place in February 2003 between my colleague and predecessor as Minister of State, Deputy Browne, and the chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, NASF. I am advised that this meeting was arranged to discuss the organisation's views about the netting of wild salmon by Irish commercial fishermen. Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for Marine in 2004, I have not met this person nor have I had any discussions with him in this matter.

I am advised that the Department has exchanged correspondence with the NASF on the management of the Irish wild salmon fishery in recent years. However, I can inform the Deputy that neither the NASF nor any other organisation have made formal offers to the Department to fund the cost of a buy out scheme for drift netting licences.