Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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212. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason minutes of the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland, ACCI, and Angling Advisory Group, AAG, meetings held on 6 August and 15 October 2024, respectively, have not been disseminated in the public domain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63206/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Angling Advisory Group (AAG) meetings in question took place on 6 August 2024 and 15 October 2024, with some members attending in person and some remotely.

Following any AAG meeting, draft minutes are prepared, circulated for review to all members of the Group and subsequently discussed and proposed for agreement and approval at subsequent AAG meetings. Until formally approved and agreed, the Department is not in a position to publish them.

Since October 2024, it had not been possible to meet the quorum requirements to facilitate a meeting of the Group on an agreed date until August of this year. My officials have advised me they expect to be in a position to publish the minutes of past meetings on the Department's website by the end of the month.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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213. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Departmental officials and Inland Fisheries Ireland continue to legislatively conserve the invasive fish species of roach and dace in the River Blackwater special area of conservation, SAC, considering their classification under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S. I. No. 477 of 2011); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63210/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the coarse fish species, dace and roach, have been present in the Munster Blackwater for several decades and they have colonised most areas of the catchment.

As the Deputy is aware, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), in conjunction with the Department, is carrying out a review of relevant inland fisheries bye-laws in force for 10 years or more and their continued application. The Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 is being examined as part of this extensive work programme.

IFI recently ran a public consultation process to invite views regarding the review of this bye-law. I look forward to the review process concluding in due course.