Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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399. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department, in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland, has completed a review of the provisions of the Fisheries Acts dating back to 1959, with particular reference to the licensing regime; if IFI has made any particular recommendations on future licensing regimes for all types of angling in respect of any proposed legislation; if he will confirm that the Government will not introduce a general angling permit, or rod licence by any other name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49185/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Department, working closely with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), is finalising a wide-ranging and comprehensive review of the 1959 Fisheries Act with a view to introducing Heads of a new Inland Fisheries Bill as soon as possible. The aim is to ensure that the sector, valued at €755m annually to the national economy and supporting 10,000 jobs in rural and peripheral areas, is underpinned by a robust and modern legislative code. As part of this review, I organised a series of public information and consultation meetings and attended these meetings accompanied by senior officials from the Inland Fisheries Division of my Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland. Those meetings, which were held on a regional basis in Drogheda, Carrick-on-Shannon, Tuam, Clonmel and Dublin, were well attended and laid out transparently the principal themes to be considered in the context of new legislation. There was widespread positive reaction to proposals at the public meetings and I am happy to advise the Deputy that a significant number of angling representative bodies have expressed their support to me for the broad proposals. The submissions received in the course of the public consultation sessions are available on the Department's website, The themes which were the subject of the consultation process included:

- proposals to address the complex fishery ownership and title issues and to reform the fisheries rates system;

- the funding needs for the sector including provisions to enable the possible introduction of a single angling contribution to the development and protection of the resource;

- the introduction of an angler identification system;

- simplification of offences provisions in existing legislation;

- the establishment of an Inland Fisheries Reserve to replace the current water-keeper system.

I am arranging for a copy of the document covering these themes to be forwarded to the Deputy for his information and I will be happy to arrange a full briefing for him on any aspects of the proposals.