Michael Creed
Question:40 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Marine if he will establish a national forum of all the players in the fishing industry to facilitate informed debate and policy formulation.
Vol. 436 No. 6
40 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Marine if he will establish a national forum of all the players in the fishing industry to facilitate informed debate and policy formulation.
I have no proposals at the moment to establish a national forum as suggested by the Deputy. This is not to say that I would not consider setting up ad hoc structures from time to time to focus on our major policy issues. This approach was used to good effect during the review of the Common Fisheries Policy through the group chaired by Dr. Whitaker and later Eamon Doherty.
I am satisfied that existing consultation structures work reasonably well. There is close day to day contact on operational matters between the Department of the Marine and the fishing industry.