Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
471. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether despite relatively poor attendances at the national angling forum it is good practice to hold and facilitate meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17834/19]
View answer472. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the letter of resignation from the chairperson of the national angling forum was received. [17835/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together.
As advised in Question No. 229 of 27 March 2019, there are legitimate concerns regarding the low attendance from stakeholders at meetings of the National Inland Fisheries Forum which has led to perceptions of sub-optimal delivery on the Forum’s business. It is particularly difficult for the Forum to deliver on its business when it is not achieving its established quorum to underpin its recommendations and inputs to the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
In this regard, I would emphasise that following the last review of the Forum’s operation the quorum was reduced to 20 members. This lower quorum was in place as the Forum entered its second iteration in October 2017 and, despite this modification, challenges in meeting even this lower level of participation persist.
In that regard, I refer to question No. 492 of 9 April when I indicated the potential need for further review of the Forum to address the impact of continued poor attendance by stakeholders.
A letter of resignation from the Chair was received in my Department on 19 January 2019. The process to appoint a new Chair is in hand and as indicated it is expected that meetings will resume when that process and any review of the Forum’s operation is complete.
