Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current status of the Inland Fisheries Consolidation Bill 2022; and when this Bill will move to the next stage. [47171/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Inland Fisheries Bill is a major undertaking to consolidate 14 separate enactments over 8 decades, taking account of EU and other developments. Given the principal Act, the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, is itself a consolidation of legislation dating back to the 1840’s, predating the foundation of the State, the scope of the necessary review spans close to 2 centuries.

The draft Bill will encompass approximately 140 Heads across an array of complex areas. Almost 90 of these Heads have been fully drafted and work on this multifaceted legislation is ongoing in the Department with a view to having a complete draft in 2023. The Bill will also include modernised provisions in relation to the intricate nature of fishery ownership, title and fishing rights and the uncertainties that have emerged over time in those areas. It will also provide for, inter-alia, conservation, protection, development and management of the entire resource as well as sustainability measures on biodiversity, habitats, environmental matters, invasive species and in-water infrastructure and installations.

I recently published a policy roadmap which sets out plans for a policy statement for the inland fisheries sector. The final Bill will be informed by this policy statement.