Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if correspondence has been received by his Department (details supplied); his views on the contents of this letter; if the second phase of the review mentioned in same will be undertaken prior to the introduction of legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9830/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the views of the chairpersons of the regional fisheries board were passed to this Department in mid-February. I am currently considering the views expressed in this correspondence and hope to be in a position to respond in the not too distant future.

The current intention is to implement phase one and the Government has authorised the drafting of a Bill to establish the new national inland fisheries authority and regional advisory boards. The Department is working in close consultation with the national fisheries management executive in designing this new legislation and it is hoped to have it enacted this year. Publication will be dependent on the complexity of the legislation required and competing priorities on the Oireachtas's legislative programme for 2006. The Government also decided that the consultants should be re-engaged in 2006 to identify in more detail the structures, resources, funding and policy approaches needed to implement the further restructuring of the sector. This process will involve full, transparent, comprehensive and patient consultations with all of the stakeholders during which the principles and structures to deliver the new model will be fleshed out.

It is my firm belief that the policy adopted will allow the sector to reach its full potential through more coherent and consistent policy making and resource allocation and use and will give the whole range of stakeholders the opportunity to be central to the development, promotion and protection of the inland fisheries resource.