Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 4

Written Answers. - Fisheries Protection.

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

200 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the dates and quantities of materials, for example, boats engines, trailers and equipment and nets, confiscated by the ESB's fisheries protection employees from poachers on the River Shannon during the period 1984-1985. [26868/00]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

201 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 to dispose of confiscated materials, for example boats, outboard engines and nets, during the period 1984-85 in relation to the Shannon basin. [26869/00]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

202 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the function of the board of the ESB and the structure of accountability under the terms of Shannon Fisheries Acts in relation to the fishery and their obligation to show breakdowns of operating costs. [26870/00]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

203 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the Minister to which the board of the ESB is accountable in relation to the operation of the fishery and profits resulting from operating the eel and salmon fisheries. [26871/00]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

209 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will outline his role in relation to the ESB fisheries division. [27066/00]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

210 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether the ESB has failed in its responsibility for statutorily managing, conducting and preserving the Shannon fisheries vested in it; and the plans he has to remove this role from the ESB. [27067/00]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

211 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether a public inquiry or Dáil committee is necessary to examine the operations of the ESB fisheries division, including companies set up and no longer trading. [27069/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 201, 202, 203, 209, 210 and 211 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 in this House on 19 October 2000. As I stated on that occasion, the ESB is statutorily responsible for managing, con ducting and preserving the Shannon fisheries vested in it, subject to my general supervision.

Corporate governance of the ESB is a matter primarily for the Minister for Public Enterprise. The ownership of the Shannon fisheries is vested in the ESB under statute. Any changes in this regard would be a matter for the Minister for Public Enterprise in the first instance, in consultation inevitably with the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.

Under its governing legislation, the ESB is obliged in each financial year to keep an account of all moneys received and expended by the board in relation to the Shannon fisheries. As soon as may be after each financial year the board is obliged to furnish a copy of the account to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. My Department has drawn the ESB's attention to its outstanding obligations in relation to accounts, noting however that the ESB furnishes an annual fisheries report to my Department.

In relation to the Deputy's request for details of court orders and other information relating to the disposal of confiscated materials in the years 1984 and 1985 I refer the Deputy to my reply of 19 October in which I stated that the ESB advise that to assemble the information requested would require a very major investment of resources.

My Department has begun a thorough review of the corporate relationship with the ESB fisheries division and the past, present and future exercise of roles and responsibilities, in relation to the Shannon fisheries and in that context will be initiating high level discussions with the ESB and the Department of Public Enterprise at an early date.