asked the Minister for the Marine the major beneficial changes to the country which have taken place since his Department was renamed; and if any achievements made could not have been made by the Department of Fisheries.
Written Answers. - Departmental Activities.
25.
The Department of the Marine now are responsible for matters beyond fisheries such as for example commercial harbours, shipping safety, shipping policy, marine related leisure pursuits and marine related environmental aspects. The major beneficial effect of this drawing together of the various strands of marine related activities into one Department has been the adoption of a cohesive approach to marine matters. It has also resulted in greater administrative costefficiency whereby a significant reduction in the workforce has been achieved despite additional functions being taken on. The new arrangements now provide for a "one-stop shop" for foreshore and aquaculture licences, the amalgamation of the commercial harbours and fishery harbours areas and the consolidation in one Department of the various disparate anti-pollution functions formerly spread over a number of Departments. None of this could have been achieved in a Department which held a purely fisheries brief. The most significant operational achievement was the removal of oil from the Kowloon Bridge. Speedy completion of this was largely due to the fact that one Department was responsible for planning and overseeing the entire operation.
In the course of the past year, four pieces of legislation have been enacted, a further one has been introduced and four others are in the course of preparation. Annual reports for 1985 and 1986 are at an advanced stage of preparation. The 1987 report, which will be the first report of Roinn na Mara, will provide greater detail on the achievements of my Department since its inception.