Vol. 577 No. 4
35 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects to receive the report of the consultants appointed to undertake the review of the inland fisheries sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31262/03]
On 2 December last, my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, announced that he had appointed independent consultants to undertake a high level review of the inland fisheries sector in Ireland.
The consortium of consultants is led by Farrell Grant Sparks Consulting and comprises the centre for environment, fisheries and aquaculture science and the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis, NUI, Maynooth. This review is to be completed in two stages over six months and I expect that stage one will be completed by the end of February 2004.
The consultants conducting the review have already commenced work and have recently placed advertisements in the national newspapers calling for submissions from all interested parties. I am advised that they have also set up a website portal dedicated to the review, which contains the terms of reference and provides instructions for making submissions or comments on the review for those wishing to use this medium of communication. I understand the closing date for receipt of submissions is 16 January 2004.
Recognising the importance that I have attached to conducting a widespread consultation process, I am advised that the consultants will be organising a programme of face to face consultations, meetings and interviews with key stakeholder interests at national and local level. They also plan to undertake a wide sweeping range of focus groups and workshop sessions early in the new year.
The review that is now under way presents stakeholders with a unique opportunity to participate in a fundamental examination of the inland fisheries sector. I, therefore, strongly encourage all concerned to engage fully in the process with a view to building a consensus on a new model for the future.
