Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Departmental officials support the conservation of invasive pike (esox lucius) under the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law (No. 809) 2006; if the species is discovered in Lough Inagh, County Galway and Lough Melvin County Leitrim both of which are special areas of conservation protected under the EU Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35536/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister, I am concerned with the threat posed by the presence and spread of all non-native invasive fish species in Irish waters including those in Lough Inagh, County Galway and Lough Melvin, County Leitrim and the impact they pose to our native fish population species and our ecosystems.

The management of any species in a particular fishery is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.

The Deputy may wish to contact IFI directly in relation to this matter. IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie