Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1997

SECTION 82.

Mr. Gilmore

I move amendment No. 50:

In page 39, to delete all words from and including "not" in line 14, down to and including line 16 and substitute "have regard to any decision of the licensing authority in relation to aquaculture licence.".

It is considered that a closer linkage should be established between licensed decisions under the foreshore Acts involving permissions to place, for example structures, on what is, in effect, State properties with licensed decisions permitting aquaculture under the Fisheries Acts. The revised provision obliges the Minister to have regard to any decision of the licensing authority with regard to the aquaculture licence.

Statutory responsibilities for aquaculture licensing under the Fisheries Acts and for aquaculture related developments on State foreshore under the foreshore Acts are currently dealt with by the same Minister. However, this may not always be the case. It is reasonable for the Minister to retain control over developments on State foreshore for which he or she has statutory responsibility under the Foreshore Acts. In practice, it is difficult to envisage any Minister refusing to grant a foreshore licence where an aquaculture licence has been granted for a development save in the most exceptional circumstances.

Amendment agreed to.

Section 82, as amended, agreed to.

SCHEDULE.

Question proposed: "That the Schedule be the Schedule to the Bill."

Mr. Molloy

Regarding the cost of implementing the Bill, provision is made for the appointment of a certain number of staff. It has been suggested the provision is not adequate and that the appointment of engineering staff is also necessary to effectively implement the legislation. Other structures are involved.

Mr. Gilmore

Additional technical and administrative staff will be required to implement the Bill. That was signalled to the Government when the Bill was before the Cabinet and also during discussions with the Department of Finance.

Mr. Molloy

Far be it from me to try to increase the State's wage bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Report of Select Committee.

Chairman

I propose the following draft report:

The Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy has considered the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1996, and has made amendments thereto. The Bill, as amended, is reported to the Dáil.

Is that agreed?

Report agreed to.

Ordered to report to the Dáil accordingly.

Chairman

The discussion on the Bill was most interesting and I thank my colleagues for their in-depth examination of this important legislation. I thank the Minister of State for his patience and the departmental and committee officials. I also thank those who manned the public gallery and listened to three days of intensive debate.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. Gilmore)

I echo the Chairman's comments and thank him for the manner in which he chaired the meetings. This ensured the Bill received a fair and expeditious passage. I thank the committee's convenor and staff and my officials. I also thank the members of the committee and the Opposition spokespersons for the fair and robust manner in which they put their case.

Mr. Molloy

I thank the Minister and his officials and the committee staff. While I am disappointed more amendments were not accepted, I am grateful to the Minister of State for accepting amendments yesterday and for introducing changes to certain sections from the point of view of fresh water anglers in the west. Many of their fears have been allayed by these amendments. However, other changes would have made the Bill more effective. The Minister of State decided otherwise today but perhaps he will change his mind on Report Stage.

The Select Committee adjourned at 6.5 p.m.