Inland Fisheries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Questions (282)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

282. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 11 June 2014, if he will identify the scientific journal to which the research has been submitted and when it is expected to be published; if Inland Fisheries Ireland will supply details of this important environmental information in the interim, in accordance with the provisions of the public participation pillar of the Aarhus Convention and the access to environmental information pillar. [28334/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

I can advise the Deputy that further to Question No. 94 of 11 June 2014 that the scientific paper has been submitted to the journal, "Fisheries Research" and is going through the peer review process. Once published will be made available on the IFI website.

IFI endeavours to publish as much of its scientific research as possible and in that regard the ultimate form of publication is in a reputable peer reviewed international scientific journal. The significance of the peer review process in the case of all published papers is that it rigorously tests all of the assumptions and statements made in papers and undoubtedly strengthens these and clarifies issues. The paper referred to by the Deputy is currently undergoing the peer review process and IFI expect this process to be completed shortly and the paper will be made available once published by the Journal. IFI would welcome the opportunity to have the lead author brief the Deputy on the paper before the formal publication by the Journal.