Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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437. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the utility and environmental soundness of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s continuing practice of stocking non-native hatchery reared fish from their facility in Cong into the river Erriff. [21395/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have undertaken a number of scientific releases of ranched salmon at the River Erriff research station (National Index Sea Trout Catchment) as part of ongoing research into the potential effects of sea lice from marine salmon farms on salmon smolt survival. Results from previous experimental releases have been published in peer reviewed reputable international scientific journals and provide advice to IFI, as the statutory authority for the management and conservation of wild salmonids, on the potential impact of sea lice on increased marine mortality of wild salmon. I am also advised that similar studies are undertaken by the Marine Institute at their Burrishoole facility as part of their research using ranched salmon. IFI have full trapping facilities at the River Erriff research station to remove all returning ranched salmon prior to migrating upstream.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the actions and policy of Inland Fisheries Ireland in maintaining, promoting and exhibiting on its Facebook site, commentary from persons and organisations that is open to controversy and refutation by reputable scientific evidence and which is potentially damaging to the reputation and commercial interest of the Irish aquaculture industry, including the facilitation of an organised protest at a national seafood conference that was opened by a senior Government Minister; in view of the liability to which IFI, as a State agency, and his Department are potentially exposed to as a result of such actions. [21396/14]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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439. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the actions and policy of Inland Fisheries Ireland in maintaining, promoting and exhibiting on its Facebook site, commentary from persons and organisations of a potentially defamatory nature in respect of named public servants in view of the liability to which IFI, as a State agency, and his Department are potentially exposed to as a result of such actions. [21397/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), in common with a range of State Agencies and other organisations, participates in social media in order to engage individuals and organisations in its core business areas. I understand that IFI posts on its Facebook page news and information on events and developments of interest to anglers and other stakeholders. It also posts commentary from Regional and National media on matters of interest.

I am advised that IFI have over 4,400 ‘Likes’ on their Facebook page each of which, in accordance with the manner in which social media works, then becomes a potential gateway to the Facebook page of the individual or organisation which posted the ‘Like’ in the first instance. IFI or indeed any public body is not in a position to edit or control the content of these external Facebook pages and cannot take responsibility for the content of private social media pages. I have forwarded a copy of this question and reply to IFI as the matter raised relates to them in the first instance.