Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the progress he has made in introducing a scheme for the buy-out of drift-net fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has, to date, consistently ruled out buy-out as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks and has instead, since 2002, promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve this objective.

Moreover, no convincing case has been advanced as to the public good that would be acquired by the State in the context of a publicly funded buy-out of commercial salmon licences nor why stakeholders benefiting from increased numbers of salmon entering the rivers should not contribute in whole or in part towards achieving that increase. The Deputy will be aware of the joint Oireachtas committee's acknowledgement that any compensatory schemes should largely be funded by those stakeholders who would be the main economic beneficiaries of more salmon being free to return to the rivers. I also draw the Deputy's attention to the committee's comment that "public moneys spent must have, as a primary aim, ensuring the survival of the salmon species and that this precept must be regarded as more important than any economic gain to any sector that may accrue".

As I have previously and consistently indicated to the House, I have no plans at present to introduce a buy-out of commercial salmon fishing licences but I am continuing to review the matter in the context of the policy outlined above. In this regard, I would be open to any relevant proposals presented to me whereby stakeholders benefiting from any reduction in commercial catch would engage in the first instance with licence holders and indicate a willingness to address any compensation issues that might arise. In the event of a compensatory scheme being identified, it is my view that the economic beneficiaries should contribute to the scheme.

I can confirm that I have referred the broad outline proposals, which were submitted to me, to the National Salmon Commission recently for an objective evaluation in accordance with its terms of reference in the overall context of conservation management measures designed to achieve the alignment of national and district total allowable catches and quotas. I await its advice in this regard.