I move amendment No. 1:
In page 5, before line 1, to insert the following:
"3.–The Minister may, after consultation with the National Salmon Commission, make regulations to provide for a scheme for the tagging of farmed salmon within 2 years if a distortion arises as a result of farmed salmon not being tagged. Such scheme would be administered in a similar manner to the scheme which is in place for the tagging of wild salmon.".
We had a good discussion on this Bill on Second and Committee Stages. I accept a number of the Minister's assertions during those discussions. I am now more happy with this Bill than when I read it initially. The Minister clarified a number of matters for me and for Deputy Bell.
It is a good idea to tag the carcasses of salmon. This issue has been talked about for many years. I recall it being discussed ten years ago. We have now come to the stage where it is about to happen. It was not intended to discuss this issue in both Houses of the Oireachtas, but the measure will be stronger as a result. It would be better if the many regulations passed in the House were passed following a debate. A number of issues were raised by both sides of the House as a result of this debate and that will strengthen the Bill. The Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Byrne, knows we are here because the Attorney General said it was not possible to introduce on-the-spot fines without legislation being passed in both Houses.
I accept the Minister's belief that the tagging of wild salmon will increase the price. It is a type of quality assurance. The public, people in the restaurant and hotel business and tourists will know the product they are getting is wild salmon and not anything else. We had a long discussion about what would happen with farmed salmon. It is possible there could be a breakout at salmon farms and the wrong salmon could be tagged. I tabled one amendment because I wanted to raise public awareness of this issue.
I want a two-year trial period so that if there are problems with farmed salmon, something could be done to address them. I appreciate that could be difficult, given the huge volume of farmed salmon. However, anglers and others involved in catching wild salmon must ensure the product they are allowed to tag is wild salmon. The Minister agreed to look at this issue and that is included in the report of the committee. I do not know what the committee had in mind.
I went to great lengths to get an assurance from the Minister, which he readily gave and I am sure the Minister of State will give it tonight as well, that anglers would not be asked to pay for the tag or the log book in the future under any set of circumstances. The Minister of State knows exactly the comparison I will make. Many years ago both of us were told that farmers would not have to pay for cattle tags, although most of them must now be paid for. When that happens once, it could happen a second time. If someone was daft enough to introduce it, the fishing fraternity would show its true colours because it would undermine a potentially good scheme. No one knows how successful this scheme will be.
One would know Deputy Bell had experience in this area because he said that much of the sal mon caught are not identified. They are sold and taken away in the back of a car.