asked the Minister for the Marine if it is proposed to alter the structure of regional fishery boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regional Fishery Boards.
7.
I have been examining the structure of the regional fishery boards. I have not yet finalised my proposals in the matter, but I hope to be in a position to make recommendations to Government shortly.
Will the Minister be a little more specific? When does he expect to have his plans finalised? Secondly, what discussions has he had with the various members of the regional fishery boards and at what level? Is he getting co-operation from them in this review?
The Minister of State and I in the past year visited all the regional fishery boards and have had discussions with them on a number of issues covering the whole area of inland fisheries, including administrative structure, financing and other related issues. As the Deputy will be well aware, some of these are very complex and complicated issues and naturally there would be widespread differences of opinion in different areas and between members and individuals. Overall, we have had very good co-operation from both the members of the boards and the staff associations and personnel with whom we have had discussions also.
I do not disagree with the Minister that this is a complex area. It is so complex, in fact, that selective members of fishery boards appear to be involved in discussions and some others are not. The Government appear to be talking to two different types of fishery board. Would the Minister not agree that the regional fishery boards are in disarray? They do not know what is going on and are very concerned about the position. This is adding further problems to the whole operation of the regional fisheries and how the boards are to carry out their duties. A decision must be arrived at very quickly. Statements have been made for far too long that the position is under review and discussion. Answers are now needed. How soon will the Minister be able to put everything into perspective as to what direction he will take?
We are already preparing a draft memo for Government which has been already circulated to various Government Departments. I would hope we would be in a position shortly to submit a memo for Government decision detailing the changes, after having the most comprehensive discussions and dialogue with the various interests involved — I would say in the next week to ten days. The Government will make the decisions. Part of the difficulty in this area is that some of the issues may need legislation to deal effectively with the present situation.
Will the Minister accept that, apart from the cash crisis facing the regional fisheries boards, their uncertain future is having a devastating effect on morale? Last December, the Minister used the word "shortly" when questioned on this very point. He has used it again today. Can he be more explicit as to what he understands the word "shortly" to mean in this case? Can he give us some guarantee as to when he will be back before this House detailing his plans for the central fishery board and the regional fishery boards? Can the Minister guarantee that if there are to be changes — and he intimated last autumn that there would be changes — whatever structures are put in place will represent all fishing interests and all fishing groups throughout the country, that they will have a vehicle through which their voices can be heard? Has he made a decision with regard to An Bord Iascaigh Intíre?
If there has been any undue delay in the finalisation and bringing forward of proposals, it is because we undertook this fairly extensive dialogue and communication with the various interests involved, the central fishery board, the staff associations and the various regional fishery boards. In formulating the decision, we also have to bear in mind the lack of a proper forum for responsible organisations to express their points of view on various issues if they have them to express. All discussions and dialogue by the Minister of State and myself with the various regional boards and the central authority, the present central fishery board, and all communication with them are in sharp contrast with the attitude adopted by the previous Government who abolished the central fishery board without any consultation, without making any arrangements as to how the work would be undertaken, or without reaching any decision about how the people involved in that work would be redeployed or dealt with. We have adopted a different course of action which may necessitate some delay but which is far superior to the ham-fisted action of the previous Government.
Regrettably, we had not long enough to give the Opposition the benefit of our wisdom with regard to what we are doing in this area.
The board was not given any consideration——
I am calling the next question.
——about the proposals.
Matters would have been made clear if we had been in office long enough.