Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 382: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the next elections to the Regional Fisheries Boards will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12829/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In accordance with the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1980 and the Postponement of Elections Order 2006 (SI No. 629 of 2006), the next elections to the regional fisheries boards are scheduled to be held in December 2007.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government has decided that a fundamental restructuring of the inland fisheries sector is required. Under Government policy the sector is to be reorganised by subsuming the existing central and regional fisheries boards into a single National Inland Fisheries Authority (NIFA) whose executive functions will be aligned on a regional basis with the river basin districts.

Due to competing priorities for time in the Oireachtas legislative calendar, however, it has not been possible to introduce the legislation required to facilitate the establishment of the new authority, to date. In the meantime, officials from the Department are working with management of the fisheries boards to examine how the existing legislation governing the inland fisheries sector, which dates back to 1959, can be modernised and consolidated into a single statute.