Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
64 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the Government expects to issue a report on its own internal review examining the conflicting roles that are held within his Department in holding both a development and regulatory function in the management of the acquaculture and fishing industries. [13687/04]
View answerI asked my Department to review the structures of the seafood and coastal zone areas in my Department in line with the provisions of the programme for Government to develop devolved service structures to support the sustainable management, development and protection of the marine coastal zone and seafood resources. The first initiative taken in this respect was the reforms contained in the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, which established an independent fishing vessel licensing authority to administer fishing vessel licensing policy and established a transparent process for the promulgation of that policy. I am also committed to introducing further legislative changes, similar to those implemented in the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, that will strengthen and establish the legal independence of the regulatory functions in the Department. In addition, the Government decision to decentralise seafood and coastal functions of the Department to Clonakilty provides an opportunity for the further development of service structures in these areas. These decentralised functions will provide for central Government policy co-ordination for seafood and marine coastal zone resources working closely with the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, to deliver an integrated approach to the management and development of the marine sector.
The review process is ongoing in nature and, as I have said, must now take account of the new proposed decentralised structures. I will continue to keep under review the new arrangements with a view to taking any additional measures that are required to deliver appropriate service structures that support sustainable management, development and protection of the marine coastal zone and seafood resources.
