I move:
That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft:
Elections of Conservators (Postponement) Order, 1979,
a copy of which Order in draft was laid before Seanad Éireann on the 27th day of September, 1979.
Election of Conservators (Postponement) Order, 1979: Motion.
As Senators are aware, elections to boards of conservators, which under the Fisheries Acts would normally be held every five years, have been deferred by amending legislation since 1974. As October is the month in which these elections must be held, an order deferring them for a further period is now required. While the order is technically needed its effect on this occasion will be marginal because the Fisheries Bill, 1979, which provides for a new administrative structure for inland fisheries, will it is expected, be enacted shortly. That Bill, as Senators are aware, was passed by this House earlier this year. The Bill has passed its Second Stage in the Dáil and the Committee Stage debate there is scheduled for 13 November.
The order which I propose to make postponing elections must, in accordance with statute, be laid in draft before each House of the Oireachtas and a motion approving of it must be passed by each House before it can be made.
Boards of conservators have been in existence for over 100 years and while they have given great service for many years their structure was not designed and is not suited to cope with the problems of present day fishery management. The system of election to the boards is particularly unsatisfactory in that it permits multiple voting and allows for occupiers of fishery properties valued at £50 or over to hold ex-officio seats on boards.
The Fisheries Bill, 1979, as Senators will recall, gives effect to the main recommendations of the Inland Fisheries Commission including the abolition of boards of conservators and consequently no further elections in their regard will arise when the Bill is passed. I hope to have the Bill enacted before the end of the year and to set up the new administrative structure, which is provided for in the Bill, as soon as possible afterwards.
I wish to express again my personal and my Department's appreciation of the great work done by the boards of conservators and by their staffs. This is all the more praiseworthy when one considers that members of boards give their time and energy voluntarily.
I am especially appreciative of the co-operation which I have received in recent years from members of the boards who have continued in office well beyond their normal term. I look forward to the continuation of this co-operation until the new structure is set up. I have no doubt that when the new boards come to be constituted, we will see included in them many of the people who have given such loyal service down the years. I accordingly recommend to the House that a resolution be passed approving of the draft order.
While willing to approve this order postponing the election of the boards of conservators for yet another year for the reason given, I wonder if the Minister could use the opportunity in this House to give us as accurate an assessment as possible of when the new provisions will be in operation and when the elections will take place under that scheme.
I envisage that the law will be enacted finally before the end of the year. I will straightaway appoint new regional boards for seven regional areas and a central board and they will come into existence for a year starting, it is hoped in December or January. During that period of a year arrangements will be made for the new elections which it is hoped will be held before the end of next year. I will appoint the regional board structure directly. During that interim period of roughly a year the various arrangements for elections will be made. The elections, which will be on a panel system representing the various fishery interests, will be held in the seven regional areas and they will then have their chairman of the central board together with nominees of mine. This work will take place early in the new year.
Question put and agreed to.