I am glad to be back with the committee members and I imagine I can expect the same type of co-operation I got previously.
I welcome the opportunity to outline the thinking behind this motion.
Responsibility for the management and development of the inland fisheries sector currently resides with the Central Fisheries Board and the seven regional fisheries boards. Members will be aware that elections to the regional fisheries boards are due to take place on 16 December 2008, following an extension agreed by the Oireachtas last year. However, I propose to make an order postponing elections for a further year, subject to the approval of the Dáil and Seanad.
I make this proposition with the very real prospect of having a restructured streamlined alternative in place for the inland fisheries service during 2009, to be delivered in the context of the Government's general rationalisation of State agencies. In 2005, on foot of an independent review of the inland fisheries sector in Ireland, my predecessor announced plans for significant restructuring of the sector. However, due to the complexity of the legislation required to implement the proposals, and because of competing priorities, it did not prove possible to introduce the required legislation within the envisaged timeframe.
Committee members will recall that, in seeking sanction to postpone the elections in 2007, my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, advised of a new initiative being undertaken by the boards of the inland fisheries sector in respect of the proposed restructuring of the sector. This was to be developed in detail during 2008. Representatives from the central and regional fisheries boards worked with officials from the Department in developing these proposals in the early part of 2008. The Minister's consideration of the finalised proposals was, however, overtaken by the Department of Finance's review of State bodies, announced in July. As committee members will be aware, on foot of that review, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, announced in budget 2009 that the Government had decided to reduce by 41 the number of State bodies and agencies. As part of this rationalisation process a new national inland fisheries body is to be established which will replace the existing Central Fisheries Board and the seven regional boards. The eight existing trout and coarse fisheries co-operative societies will also be affected under these restructuring proposals.
This decision superseded all other proposals under consideration for the future of the sector and will be implemented without delay. A deadline of August 2009 has been set for vesting day of the new organisation. A small group, chaired by the Department and with representation on behalf of the existing boards, has been established to guide the implementation of the decision. This group will develop the key features of the new model and will advise on the legislative provisions required to deliver the new regime. It will also devise appropriate transitional arrangements to ensure the smooth changeover to the new structures next year. Although the proposal involves the creation of a single national authority, I stress that the Government is committed to maintaining a strong regional input into the management of inland fisheries.
Amending legislation will be required to give effect to the new structures and in this regard the Department is well advanced in the process of drawing up a draft scheme of Bill. It is hoped this will be submitted to Government for approval in the coming weeks. In addition to providing the legislation necessary to facilitate the new structures a separate study is to be undertaken to examine how the existing 17 pieces of legislation governing the inland fisheries sector, which date back to 1959, can be modernised and consolidated into a single statute. As members will appreciate, a considerable amount of work is involved in such an exercise.
A sub-group of the national fisheries management executive has been established to ensure that those dealing with the consolidated legislation at an operational level will have an input into proposals for the new legislation to govern the sector. This group is working closely with the Department on developing legislative proposals. I hope to be in a position to bring forward proposals for that legislation late next year. In the meantime, the focused effort of the Department will be on the legislation enabling the establishment of the new inland fisheries authority.
I recognise the valuable contribution made by the existing members of the boards to the inland fisheries in their regions. Given the significant changes that will be experienced by the sector in the coming year, I am anxious that they be given an opportunity to maintain that important role, not only in offering a continuing input to the work of the regional boards, but also in ensuring a smooth transition to the new structures. Accordingly, I propose to postpone the elections to the regional fisheries boards for a further year in accordance with section 15 of the Fisheries Act 1980. The order, when made, will extend the term of office of the existing board members for a further year, or until vesting day of the new authority, at which time the boards will cease to exist. The order will also result in the postponement of elections to co-operative societies. This will facilitate the continued contribution from those individuals directly involved in overseeing the service, who will have a key role to play in advancing the restructuring of the sector.
While I am fully committed to the restructuring of the sector, I recognise there will be challenges in bringing it about. I stress that the changes to the sector will be progressed on an open and transparent basis.
I trust that the committee will recommend that the Oireachtas should pass a motion approving the order to defer the elections.