Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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70. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he and or his officials have consulted with the senior management team at Inland Fisheries Ireland in respect of the terms of reference that have been set (details supplied); if so, if he will publish the terms of reference immediately in the public interest in view of the fact that Inland Fisheries Ireland is a publicly funded body and is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. [27418/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will detail the level of engagement he has had with the Comptroller and Auditor General arising from matters of concern in respect of an internal audit at Inland Fisheries Ireland (details supplied). [27419/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together.

Recent media reports have suggested that significant irregularities have been identified in Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). However, it is important to note that these matters have been previously addressed in audit reviews and in the Statement of Internal Control, signed off by the Chair earlier this year, and which is required to form part of the IFI’s Annual Report for 2021. The Chair’s report, on behalf of the Board, confirms that issues identified have been addressed and that IFI assets are being appropriately managed.

The inference in the media report referenced by the Deputy, that matters already addressed in the relevant IFI Statement of Internal Control and audit reviews have been subsequently explicitly raised to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), does not reflect the factual position. 

As the Deputy may be aware, annual reports and accounts, including annual Statements of Internal Control are prepared by all Public Bodies, including IFI, and are required to be submitted annually, as a matter of course, to the C&AG before being laid before the Oireachtas

Engagement by IFI with the C&AG has been entirely within the well-established, standard process via the submission of the required documents to the C&AG.  This customary annual submission related to 2021 was made by IFI on 31 March 2022 well in advance of the issues being raised in media reports.

Separately, I have appointed Mr. Conleth Bradley, Senior Counsel, under Section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, (which section is entitled “Removal of Members from Office”, members being members of the Board of IFI) to carry out a review of the exercise by the Board of its functions under the Act.

The review does not in any way relate to other matters raised in the media article.  The provisions of section 18 are very specific and relate entirely to the performance of the Board and, therefore, it would not be appropriate to discuss the terms of reference for the review with the IFI executives who form the senior management team. No such discussion has taken place.  The terms of reference have been communicated to the Board.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding provided by Inland Fisheries Ireland in respect of the provision and improvement and inclusion of anglers with a disability in the past five years to date; if he is satisfied that all funded was appropriated in the way in which it was intended for. [27423/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The disbursement of grant aid is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries in which neither I nor my Department have any role. However, IFI have confirmed that they provided funding of €771,604.39 for the provision and inclusion of anglers with a disability through:

1.  Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) - €151,483.39;

2. National Strategy for Angling Development (accessible angling infrastructure projects) - €613,471; and

3. The IFI Sponsorship Scheme  - € 6,650. 

IFI also confirm that all funding was disbursed appropriately as evidenced by independent internal audit reviews of both Dormant Accounts Funds and the National Strategy for Angling Development and annual reports made to the Department of Community and Rural Development, the managing authority for DAF, (in respect of Dormant Accounts elements).

IFI have established a dedicated e-mail address: oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie where direct detailed queries may be made by members of the Oireachtas.