Vol. 524 No. 4
56 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will list the dates and quantities of materials such as boats, engines, trailers and equipment and nets confiscated by ESB's fisheries protection employees from poachers on the River Shannon during the period 1978 to 1989. [22720/00]
57 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of District Court orders obtained by the ESB's fisheries protection staff in the Shannon basin to dispose of confiscated materials including boats, out board engines and nets during the period 1978 to 1989. [22721/00]
58 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will quantify, in monetary terms, the profit generated by the ESB eel survey on the Shannon basin. [22722/00]
59 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the ESB's current policy of employing persons as protection staff on the Shannon basin on contract basis is infringing the Acts governing the River Shannon. [22723/00]
60 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the ESB failed to observe the water levels set out in the legalisation governing Lough Allen, County Leitrim, up to and including 1987. [22724/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 60, inclusive, together.
Under the Shannon Fisheries Acts the ESB, in addition, but subject and without prejudice to, the primary function of maintaining, working and developing the Shannon hydro-electric works, is responsible for statutorily managing, conducting and preserving the Shannon fisheries vested in it, subject to my general supervision. My Department has consulted the ESB on the matters raised and has been advised as follows.
The ESB has advised that to assemble the information requested in relation to material confiscated over the years in question would require a major investment of resources and that, furthermore, records for many of the events may no longer be in existence. Seizures and disposals by ESB staff are carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation.
The ESB has confirmed that the eel research survey 1992 to 1999 was carried out at a cost to the body and that no profit was earned.
The ESB state that the employment of contract staff for fisheries protection duties is compatible with the performance by ESB of its statutory responsibilities.
The ESB has confirmed that there are no statutory water levels set for Lough Allen which must be complied with by the ESB. The ESB complies with local arrangements jointly agreed with the Office of Public Works and the communities involved.
