In accordance with Standing Order 79B, the following message will be sent to the Dáil:
The Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has completed its consideration of the Fisheries Amendment (No. 2) Bill, 2000 [Seanad].
Message to Dáil.
That concludes our consideration of the Bill. I thank all those who contributed to the interesting debate.
I thank the Opposition Deputies for their constructive approach to this legislation which is very important in terms of our inland fisheries. I look forward to the successful implementation of the scheme and will take on board the issues raised by the Deputies. I also thank my own officials and the Salmon Commission for their work on the Bill. We have come a long way since the salmon task force was initially established. The establishment of the Salmon Commission means that all interested parties are now around the table discussing and negotiating the future of wild salmon. This is a real success story.
I thank the Minister and his officials for their open minds. Under normal circumstances, this debate would not have taken place because it was intended to introduce the scheme by way of regulation. However, the inclusion of the "on-the spot" fines necessitated the introduction of legislation although that aspect of the Bill received the least attention. The scheme will be strengthened by the fact that the Bill was debated in the Oireachtas.
I concur with the views expressed by Deputy Connaughton. I was chairman of the committee on enterprise and economic strategy which dealt with the salmon task force report over a 14 month period. This legislation is the end result of those considerations. Having worked on this matter over a two year period, I am glad to have had some input into the legislation and I wish it a speedy passage through the Dáil.
I thank the Minister and his officials for their attendance at today's meeting.
The committee adjourned sine die.