Vol. 427 No. 2
125 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine if he will have arrangements made for the holding of information sessions by fishery officers or otherwise, so that skippers and fishermen can be kept abreast of changes in EC and national legislation and regulations in so far as they affect fishery law.
Officials of the Department of the Marine have a close working relationship with both fishermen and their representative organisations. As a matter of course proposed legislation is notified to them in advance of enactment. All legislative measures introduced by me are published and circulated in accordance with statutory requirements. In addition copies are circulated to all interested parties.
At local level fishermen are advised of changes in legislation and the day to day effects on them by the Department's field staff at the ports.
Finally numerous information seminars have been and will continue to be conducted by the Department when major changes in fishery legislation occur. I have asked the Department to review these arrangements in discussion with the representative organisations.
