Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of man-hours devoted to preparing the draft the inland fisheries (modernisation and consolidation) Bill by his officials since 2013; if the draft Bill has been subjected to an appropriate assessment under the EU Habitats Directive in addition to a regulatory impact analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35535/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has spent a great deal of time in the preparation and drafting of Heads of Bill for our new Inland Fisheries (Consolidation) Bill. It is not possible, however, to estimate precisely the number of hours spent on this Bill due to turnover of staff and restructuring of work areas that deal with this project since 2013. The new Inland Fisheries (Consolidation) Bill is highly technical in nature and will consolidate and modernise fisheries legislation from the 1840's to 2017.

I can assure the Deputy that all legal requirements in relation to appropriate assessments under the EU Habitats Directive and carrying out of any relevant RIA will be undertaken by my Department in the context of bringing any final Heads of Bill to Government.