asked the Minister for the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the new tagging system of salmon will be implemented; the steps he has taken to ensure that it will work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salmon Review Group Recommendations.
8.
asked the Minister for the Marine the action he proposes to take on the Salmon Review Group report, as the date for submissions on the report has passed; if a report on the submissions of the report will now be published; who will implement the recommendations of the report; and when they will be implemented.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 20 together.
I have accepted the objectives recommended in the Salmon Review Group report. I am of the opinion that they will form a firm foundation on which to build the future of the salmon fishing industry.
I extended the latest date for receipt of submissions on the report to 31 March 1988 and, indeed, submissions have continued to flow in right up to the present. I do not consider a report on these submissions to be necessary. I may, of course, advert to key points made in submissions as announcements are made on an ongoing basis regarding the implementation of specific measures recommended in the report.
When I have completed my examination of the views expressed in these submissions I will arrange for the implementation by my Department at the earliest possible date of those recommendations in the report which I consider will best achieve the objectives I have adopted.
I have accepted in principle the introduction of a tagging and quotas system for dead salmon which is one of the alternative conservation measures recommended by the group. My Department are at present formulating detailed arrangements for its early introduction following consultation with all relevant interests. These arrangements include the fixing and distribution of quotas.
The Minister is again formulating opinions or reviewing things. Will the tagging system for salmon be introduced this year; what arrangements has the Minister made to have it introduced, and what procedures is he following? Since I came into the House I have heard the Salmon Review Group report being referred to to cover a multitude of everything. What are the specifics? The season is upon us again. Is it going to happen and, if so, what arrangements have been made to ensure that it works efficiently?
The Deputy has not been hearing about the Salmon Review Group report since he came into this House. We got the report on 20 October 1987 and we indicated that there have been many requests from interested bodies and fishermen that they should get an opportunity to study the report in detail before any firm decisions are made on the report. We expected to have the final views and opinions by the end of February. I extended that date to end of March this year to facilitate responsible people and organisations who sought time to make submissions. Many decisions are involved in this, decisions which will affect the fishing industry, traditional salmon fishing and the livelihoods of many. These people have a legitimate point of view to which we have an obligation to listen and we have an obligation to take their views into account in making a final decision.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Deputy Avril Doyle has been called.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I have called Deputy Doyle.
The Minister will probably accept that the cynics have been saying that the extension date for submissions on the report was to ensure that nothing would have to be done on the report this year. I do not accept that. I take what the Minister says in good faith, but we may as well face up to the fact that that is what the public think has been happening. On the tagging and quota system, who will decide what quotas individual fishermen will get? The system will not be in place for 1988. The Minister can be categorical about that and let us be frank with one another. Can the Minister guarantee that it will be up and running for 1989? Who will be making the all important decisions on quotas? How long will the Minister let the tagging and quota system run in terms of years, before he will assess whether it has been successful in controlling the illegal intercepting at sea of salmon?
The original request to extend the date for making submissions on the report was made verbally to me when I met the Killarney and district salmon and trout anglers in Killarney, sometime in the middle of January.
You should meet them again about the rod licences.
We discussed that issue, Deputy. These people asked at that time that the date for submissions be extended. I have subsequent requests from other bodies and people who wish to express a point of view about this. We are still receiving submissions. In relation to the quota and tagging system, any new system will have to be carefully studied in advance of bringing it into operation. The worst possible thing we could do, as the Deputy will agree, is to rush a system in which might be difficult to operate and which might break down.
Like the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, perhaps?
We have to have discussions with the various interests involved before embarking on a course of action. How long the quota and tagging system remains is a matter which will have to be decided on the basis of the experience when the system begins to operate. It will have to be long enough to deal with the deteriorating stocks of salmon. Whatever system that is put in place must be capable of being fully implemented. It will have to remain in operation until we can be satisfied that there is a positive result in terms of an improvement in salmon stocks.
Question No. 9.
A Cheann Comhairle——
A brief question, Deputy Doyle. I want to get on to other questions.
There is discrimination here. I was not allowed to ask a second supplementary.
I did not deny Deputy Cullen a supplementary.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Minister say who will decide on the quotas, on what basis they will be distributed——
The question has already been asked.
——and on what basis we will have them in place in 1989?
We are having repetition.
We have a working party in the Department working on this since the report came out in January — a team of officials and qualified experienced scientists. I assure the Deputy that they have put a lot of work into this. They have got advice and recommendations from other countries where similar systems are in operation. We are quite satisfied that when we come forward with decisions in this area they will be ones which can be successfully implemented.
In 1989?
Question No. 9, Deputy Austin Deasy.
It is obvious to me that strenuous efforts have been made not to get to Question No. 13, so I will let Question No. 9 go for written reply.
I have called the question, but it is a matter for the Deputy. Question No. 10.