In accordance with section 3 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 I am responsible for the performance of all the functions which have been assigned to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources pursuant to the Ministers and Secretaries Acts.
In the context of my overall responsibility, as Minister of the Government, for all functions assigned to my Department, exercise of the marine functions has been delegated to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher. It is also the case that functions in regard to the licensing and registration of sea-fishing vessels have been statutorily delegated to a senior official in my Department.