Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
131. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Departmental officials support the legislative conservation of invasive perch in Lough Shindilla under the current Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 and the subsequent ecological destruction of native Arctic char (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2675/24]
View answer132. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Departmental officials support the continual stocking of invasive rainbow trout into Lough Lene SAC lake (details supplied) given the direct negative impact that invasive freshwater fish have on the ecological quality status of Irish rivers and lakes under the EU Water Framework Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2676/24]
View answer133. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Departmental officials support the legislative conservation of invasive roach in Lettercraffroe Lough (details supplied) under the current Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 considering that roach are classed as highly invasive in Ireland under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477 of 2011); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2677/24]
View answer134. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Departmental officials support the continual promotion on Ballyquirke Lough SAC lake as an invasive pike and coarse fishery given the direct negative impact that invasive freshwater fish have on the ecological quality status of Irish rivers and lakes under the EU Water Framework Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2678/24]
View answer135. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Departmental officials support the legislative conservation of invasive tench in Ballyquirke Lough and the wider Lough Corrib SAC catchment under the current Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2679/24]
View answer136. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Departmental officials support the continual promotion of Ross Lake SAC lake as an invasive pike and coarse fishery given the direct negative impact that invasive freshwater fish have on the ecological quality status of Irish rivers and lakes under the EU Water Framework Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2680/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 and 136 together.
The issues raised by the Deputy in relation to a number of specific lakes and the management of any particular fish species in those waters are operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie
On the matters relating to the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 referred to by the Deputy, I wish to advise that IFI in conjunction with my Department is carrying out a review of relevant inland fisheries bye-laws in force for 10 years or more and their continued application and Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 and indeed the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law No. 809 of 2006 will be examined and reviewed as part of this exercise. The review process, will, of course, take into account relevant legal acts of the European Union including the EU Water Framework Directive.
