Vol. 412 No. 2
30 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the changes he is making regarding the appointment of individuals as private waterkeepers; the reason he is making these changes; the total number of private waterkeepers in the country; and the number who have been found to be unsuitable.
The amendments to section 294 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, concerning the appointment of individuals as private waterkeepers, contained in section 17 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1991, provide for the following: 1. applicants seeking appointment will be required to hold a certificate of suitability issued by the appropriate regional fisheries board; 2. appointments to be limited to a maximum of five years; 3. existing appointment to expire within five years of commencement of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1991; and 4. the form of instrument (Prescribed Form) to be amended to take account of these provisions.
I introduced this amendment on Committee Stage in the Dáil of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1991, on foot of representations which I received from an organisation representing angling clubs and from the Central Fisheries Board.
The concern expressed by these groups was that under the 1959 Act persons could be appointed without any consultation with the fisheries boards. This process could give rise to situations whereby unsuitable persons could be appointed as waterkeepers. Such an appointment confers them with considerable powers and authority under the Fisheries Acts. Furthermore there is no time limit on such appointments.
