Vol. 568 No. 5
307 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the ESB fisheries division provides him with an annual financial breakdown of profits and operating costs; if these reports are available to the public; if the ESB operated third party companies to reduce its accountability in relation to its statutory duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16733/03]
Under the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 1961, the Electricity Supply Board is required to provide me with an annual report, statistics, returns and accounts in relation to fisheries under its management. The latest ESB fisheries conservation annual report for the year ending December 2001 has been published and is widely available. This report includes details of turnover, expenditure, payroll, operational costs and net loss figures which have been extracted from the financial statements of the ESB for the year ended 31 December 2001.
While I am aware that the ESB has contracted out some of its statutory functions in relation to the fisheries under its control, I am assured by the board that this has not been done to reduce its accountability in relation to these statutory duties. In any event, there is no provision within the legislation for the ESB to avoid responsibility for the fisheries under its statutory control in this manner.
308 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the ESB has a protection brief on the Shannon system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/03]
309 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he plans to relieve the ESB of its limited input and function into the operation of the Shannon fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16735/03]
310 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the ESB provides his Department with records of disposal orders from the District Court in relation to confiscated material captured by ESB personnel or its agents in the years 1990 to 2002; if not, the reason no records are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16736/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 to 310, inclusive, together.
The Shannon Fisheries Acts provide that 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 managing, conducting and preserving the Shannon fisheries vested in it, subject to my general supervision. These functions mean that the ESB is also responsible for providing protection for these fisheries. I have no plans to change the terms and conditions of the Shannon Fisheries Acts.
It has not been possible for me to gather, within the time available, the information requested in relation to material confiscated by the ESB over the period 1990 to 2002. Furthermore, I am advised by the ESB that records for many of the events may no longer be in existence. I have, however, asked the ESB to assemble whatever relevant information there is available, particularly in the more recent years, and to forward this directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
