Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the report of Farrell Grant Sparks into the fisheries industry; his plans for the management, development and expansion of all aspects of Irish angling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8082/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The proposed restructuring of the inland fisheries sector contained in the Government decision made on foot of the Farrell Grant Sparks Review of the Inland Fisheries Sector in Ireland, which itself is more than two years old, met with a lot of stakeholder resistance. In these circumstances and responding to a call of the Fisheries Boards' Chairpersons for a somewhat different approach to restructuring of the boards, I requested that they develop an agreed proposal for my consideration by April of this year.

Following receipt of this proposal, the most appropriate way forward in terms of streamlining the sector will be identified for implementation and I would hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to the proposals soon after that.

Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the conservation, protection, management and development of the inland fisheries resource currently rests with the Central and regional fisheries boards. The fisheries boards devote considerable effort and Exchequer resources towards the development and promotion of angling and work closely with the tourist authorities in relation to angling tourism.