Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason there is a difference in the cost of a licence (details supplied) for draft fishermen in different fishery board regions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10012/10]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the special local licences fees set, in the northern and north western fisheries regions, by the Special Tidal Waters (Special Local Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order 2009 (SI No 538 of 2009). That Order amended, inter alia, the Rivers Owenmore and Owenduff (Special Local Licences) Order 1967 (SI No 34 of 1967). Those rivers are located in the North Western fisheries region. I am pleased to remind the House that the Orders provided for a 10% reduction in all salmon fishing licence fees, a reduction applied nationally to commercial and recreational salmon fishing licences. However, notwithstanding the benefits conferred by that order, the pre-existing differential in licence fees remains.

Having regard to the long-standing nature of these differentials, it is my intention to ask the new national inland fisheries authority, Inland Fisheries Ireland, upon establishment, to examine the structure of these licences and make recommendations on the matter.