Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons for the inaction in publishing the Western Lakes Management Plan, considering that the plan has been proposed since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58950/25]

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he will fulfil the fundamental obligation in the 2025 Programme for Government vis-à-vis the recognition of the great western lakes, including Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway, as salmonid waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58951/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

Following the publication of the 2020 Programme for Government, the then Minister, Eamon Ryan, requested that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) prepare a plan for the long-term management of our western lakes. In line with the objectives set out in the current and previous Programmes for Government and following a lengthy public consultation process, this plan was advanced through the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment processes in accordance with the relevant EU legislation.

The plan which reflects the intention of IFI to recognise and manage the Great Western Lakes (Lough Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin) as salmonid waters has been submitted to IFI's senior management team for final evaluation. Once this concluding review is complete and the plan approved by the Board of IFI, it will be forwarded to the Department for my consideration.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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191. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department attempted to take legislative control of stock management/invasive pike culls on the great western lakes during 2021, which is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58952/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept the characterisation that there was any attempt by the Department to legislatively take control of operational matters proper to IFI in 2021. Rather, the 2020 Programme for Government included a commitment to “legislate to designate our western lakes as salmonid lakes”.

The Inland Fisheries Section within the Department develops policy for the conservation and management of the inland fisheries resource for both angling and commercial interests. This work is managed through the formulation and implementation of legislation to protect and conserve the inland fisheries and sea angling resource, and develop the economic and social benefits for the sector by the preparation of secondary legislation as required, including secondary legislation in respect of the salmon, eels and the coarse fish management regime.

In order to deliver on the 2020 Programme for Government commitment, the “Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-Law” was drafted in 2021 to designate the Lakes (Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin) as salmonid waters. However, based on the feedback received from stakeholders at the time through public consultation, and considering the views of the IFI, this bye-law was withdrawn.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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192. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is the long term plan of his Departmental officials to introduce a national rod licence dressed up as mandatory angler registration charge for freshwater recreational angling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58953/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There have not been any discussions or plans made within the Department in relation to the introduction of any mandatory national rod licence angler registration charge for freshwater recreational angling.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his Departments plans to describe an organisation (details supplied) as a consultative body on recreational and competitive angling in future primary legislation or amendments to existing primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58954/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently no plans to provide for the inclusion of the Angling Council of Ireland (ACI) as a consultative body on recreational and competitive angling in any future primary legislation or amendments to existing primary legislation.

The ACI currently provide important input on inland fisheries policy matters through their representation on the Angling Advisory Group (AAG) and also the National Inland Fisheries Forum where they play a prominent role in the deliberations of these consultative bodies.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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194. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Departmental officials will grant an organisation (details supplied) the right to appoint a representative to the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland in future primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58955/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Section 12 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 provides for the appointment of members to serve on the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). The legislation provides for nine members to be appointed by the Minister to the Board of IFI

There are currently no plans to amend this legislation.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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195. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Departmental officials will appoint an organisation (details supplied) as sole administrators for any future national recreational angling fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58956/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently no plans in the Department to establish a national recreational angling fund.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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196. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the current economic based multi-species recreational freshwater angling model is consistent with Ireland’s legal obligations under the EU Habitats and Water Framework Directives plus the EU Nature Restoration Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58957/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) promotes sustainable recreational angling in accordance with its statutory remit to both encourage angling and to protect, conserve, and restore the inland fisheries resource. The practice of catch and release where fish are caught and carefully returned to the water has become standard among an increasingly environmentally aware and conscientious angling community and is mandatory in certain systems to protect vulnerable populations. Other aspects of angling, such as the choice of tackle and fishing methods, also demonstrate a strong focus on safeguarding fish welfare and aquatic habitats.

Atlantic salmon and twaite shad, both listed in Annexes II and V of the EU Habitats Directive, are the principal species targeted by recreational anglers through a strictly controlled regime to provide for their status under the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive. These species are managed under dedicated angling models, with individual stock assessments conducted for Irish rivers, supported by independent scientific advice.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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197. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of meetings of the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland (ACCI)/Angling Advisory Group (AAG) convened since September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58959/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Since September 2023, a total of 4 meetings of the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland (ACCI)/Angling Advisory Group (AAG) have been convened. The dates of these meetings were as follows:

• 25 September 2023
• 6 August 2024
• 15 October 2024
• 19 August 2025