asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the present position regarding the implementation of a Government decision to transfer the headquarters of the Central Fisheries Board to Galway City; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Fisheries Board.
12.
The decision to transfer the headquarters staff of the Central Fisheries Board from Dublin to Galway still stands. Implementation of the decision is, primarily, a matter for the board. I understand that the delay to date has been caused mainly by the reluctance of the staff to transfer to Galway. I am hoping that the difficulties involved can be resolved so as to enable the transfer to proceed.
Could I ask the date on which the decision was made to establish the headquarters of the then new Central Fisheries Board in Galway?
The decision was made at the time of the establishment of the board. Galway was designated.
What year?
1980.
Does the Minister consider it satisfactory that four years later no progress whatever would seem to have been made in implementing this Government decision?
I am disappointed that progress has not been sufficient to allow the transfer to take place. The Deputy will realise that following on reluctance to transfer in general, demands made by the Central Fisheries Board staff in their headquarters office for sums of money for disturbance and other reasons are not acceptable to the board. Let me emphasise that it is a matter for the board primarily to proceed with the effecting of this transfer. I would prefer to see the transfer take place.
Would the Minister not agree that people who have not been elected to govern this country should not be allowed to frustrate the implementation of a Government decision? Surely after nearly two years in office and being a West of Ireland man, the Minister should be taking steps to bring about a solution of whatever problems or difficulties have arisen? In that way he would ensure the implementation of the Government decision and the achievment of this minor piece of decentralisation.
All I can say is that I would go along with the Deputy fully. It is rather frustrating that the board have not succeeded in having their staff transferred to Galway. That is a matter which I shall take up with the new chairman of the board immediately.
Is the Minister saying that the matter is solely in the hands of the board and that the Minister has no role or part whatsoever to play in the implementation of this decision?
I would have a part to play in the sense of paying for the level of financial demands made by the staff over and above the normal allocation to the board.
Is the Minister saying that he, by his decisions with regard to availability of finance, is restricting the freedom of the fisheries board to implement this decision?
No, I am not. The fact is that under present Government policy disturbance money is not payable in any event, as the Deputy is aware, since 1 January last. That was a Government decision in relation to such transfers. The question does not arise at the moment. It is a matter for the board to handle this transfer.
I must be at cross-purposes with the Minister. It would seem that he is saying that the Central Fisheries Board should implement this decision but at the same time that they cannot pay any disturbance money by way of a Government decision.
Right.
Is he saying that, therefore, the decision cannot be implemented? Is it not clear that the Government are the cause of the decision not being implemented by reason of the decisions which they have made?
It is not the Government. They are being blamed for the weather, never mind the transfer of boards. It is a matter for the board to look after their staff and deal with them in accordance with the regulations laid down.
Can the Minister suggest how the board may go about this?
I am not going to make any statements on how the board should do their duty. That is a matter for the board.
Is the Minister prepared to provide whatever moneys are necessary to enable the implementation of this decision to take place?
Any Minister would not give a blanket assurance in this House to provide any kind of money for any purpose. The Deputy well knows that.
Because they have not a penny to do anything.
It is a matter for the board to decide what way they will approach this problem and it is high time the transfer was effected.
Surely the Minister is aware that the board cannot function without funds being made available by the Minister? There are no independent sources of revenue available to the board other than ministerial allocations.
The board get the normal allocations, year after year.
So the board are restricted by the availability of finance decided by the Minister.
These are not questions. This is argument.
This situation is very unsatisfactory. Would the Ceann Comhairle allow me to enable the Minister to make a full and fair comment on this matter? Could the Minister suggest to this House how he sees that the board might set about implementing the Government decision?
The board are well aware of their obligations. They have an obligation to ensure, in so far as they can, that the staff of the board go to Galway. It is a matter for the board to decide on the best way to approach that problem.