asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is proposed to hold elections for membership of fishery boards of conservators this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Boards' Elections.
5.
As I have stated in reply to a previous question, I was awaiting the report of the Inland Fisheries Commission before finalising my proposals in regard to the system of election of boards of fishery conservators. This report was only received yesterday and so it would not be possible to have the necessary formalities including legislative changes completed by next October when elections are due to be held. I have no option, therefore, but to defer the elections for a further year.
Since the report was only received yesterday there has been no time to study it. How is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to state that the necessary changes would take such a length of time? These elections have been postponed a number of times. If it seems possible that the elections could be held would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider having all the necessary work done in regard to the legislation that seems necessary rather than defer the elections for yet another year?
I have made up my mind that we will never again have elections under the prevailing system. The report was only received yesterday. It will require careful study. This is now July and the Dáil will be adjourning during this month. It will not be possible to have all this legislation passed through.
I appreciate that the report is a long document requiring study. In view of the urgency of having elections and the number of times they have been deferred can the Parliamentary Secretary not do something about this? The Parliamentary Secretary should not close his mind to the fact that all the necessary work could be done rather than just decide to defer the elections.
The measures I have in mind in regard to these elections are comprehensive ones. I was hoping we would have legislation covering a much wider field such as inland fisheries and sea fisheries. It would be better to have comprehensive legislation rather than have merely a measure to deal with this question alone and then further fishery legislation later.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not close his mind to the possibility of the elections being capable of being held and the necessary legislation enacted before October? Could we not send it to the Seanad?