Vol. 451 No. 4
4 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine if he will increase the effectiveness of the Foyle Fisheries Commission by broadening its mandate, giving it a clear development role and adequate funding and increasing its membership to ensure local representation from fishery interests from the Innisowen peninsula, County Donegal. [6635/95]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a positive agenda for change is being implemented which will broaden and deepen the mandate and effectiveness of the Foyle Fisheries Commission.
This new agenda has been set on foot of a consultancy review of the commission sponsored by my Department and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. The recommendations of the review, which was completed last year, have been endorsed by both Governments and we are taking them forward jointly with our Northern Ireland colleagues. The legislative and adminstrative changes are being put in place to effect significant strengthening of the commission's statutory responsibilities, funding, organisation and management.
The main recommendations resulting from the review are (1) expansion of the commission's remit to enable it to undertake development of the salmon and inland fisheries resource and to promote, develop and improve angling facilities; (2) extension of its powers to include the licensing of aquaculture as well as the regulation of sea fisheries in Lough Foyle; (3) creation of a new post of chief executive, new management systems and organisational restructuring; (4) additional financial resources including capital investment in surveillance equipment and a new headquarters, and (5) restructuring of the representative Advisory Council to enable it to play a much more meaningful role in Commission affairs.
The Advisory Council to the Foyle Fisheries Commission was established under the Foyle Fisheries Acts to represent local fisheries interests on both sides of the Border. It is now proposed that the long-standing advisory role of the council be restructured and broadened to enable it to play an active strategic role in commission business. This will be achieved by establishing an executive committee of the council which will work closely with the commissioners in setting and supervising operational strategies. The consultants advised, and we have accepted, that the actual structure of the commission itself should not be changed to encompass local representation.
Together with the legislative and administrative changes now being put in place, additional funding is being made available to the Commission this year by both Departments, representing an increase of 60 per cent on the 1994 contribution to the costs of running the commission. EU funding of almost £120,000 has also been approved towards the cost of capital equipment for fisheries surveillance in the Foyle system.
I look forward to creating a new dynamic within the Foyle Fisheries Commission which will serve to unlock its full potential for development both in its own role and in its contribution to development in the north west. The new mandate and planned investment is designed to deliver on that agenda for change.
The Minister of State will be aware that the Foyle Fisheries Commission has a long record of cross-Border co-operation and that it is essential to ensure it can continue such co-operation. While the Minister's reply contained a number of positive elements — such as additional funding and widening its remit — I am very disappointed that the opportunity presented to ensure true local democracy, in terms of the commission's activities, is not being availed of. The Minister of State will be aware of the concern being expressed, particularly in the Innishowen peninsula, by traditional shellfish fishermen. Does he agree, in terms of North-South co-operation and the success of the new initiatives, it is vital that there be true local democracy, and the only way to achieve that is by positive local representation on that commission?
I am sure Deputy Michael Smith will acknowledge that the Foyle Fisheries Commission has worked extremely well over the past 40 or more years and the necessity to widen its remit and improve its administrative and legislative arrangements is generally recognised. The question of local representation was considered in the review undertaken but it was recommended there should not be local representation on the commission itself and that the role of the advisory council, established for the purpose of providing local representation, should be strengthened. The way in which it is proposed to strengthen that role is to establish an executive committee of the council which would regularly meet the commission and have a particular role in relation to strategic issues on development and monitoring fisheries in that area. As the Deputy will be aware, this is a cross-Border body. The present position has been agreed by both Governments and we are in the process of preparing the necessary legislation. Legislation will be necessary in both jurisdictions and we are endeavouring to introduce it in both jurisdictions at the same time.
While this is a good initiative I ask the Minister once again to give the fullest possible consideration to extending the membership of the commission. I know this would be breaking away from the report. It is important to bring together all the different interests in that area. There is no reasonable argument against allowing the people who fished traditionally in that area to have a say in how their lives and activities will be determined for the future.
This is an area where agreement is required on the part of both Governments. A position has been agreed and the local interests are represented on the advisory council which, it is accepted, must be strengthened. Our intention is to make provision for strenghthening that role through the establishment of an executive committee in the legislation we plan to introduce. I suggest the Deputy awaits the publication of that legislation. I have no doubt we will have ample opportunity in the House to debate the issue raised.
I do not wish to labour the point but, basically, the Minister of State is telling me what is contained in the legislation. The reason I put down the question is that I feared a vital opportunity would be lost to consolidate and develop fishing resources in that area. It is difficult to understand why local interests are left out of the equation. It is not good enough to be involved in an advisory body.
We are dealing with a cross-Border body which has worked very effectively and it is proposed to widen its remit. The Deputy will agree it is advisable to proceed gradually with that approach. Local representation is valued in this area and it is intended to strengthen the arrangements in that regard.
The time allocated for priority questions is exhausted. Therefore, we will deal with Question No. 5 in the category of other questions.
