Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2019
507. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1225 to 1228, inclusive, of 8 May 2019, the angling federations and stakeholders he has met with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra508. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he plans to take to repair relations between Inland Fisheries Ireland and its stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21378/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 508 together.
I can advise the Deputy that I, along with senior officials from my Department and IFI, recently met with Angling Council of Ireland which incorporates representatives of the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs and the Salmon and Sea Trout Recreational Anglers of Ireland. I also met with representatives of the National Anglers Representative Association and the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and I intend to meet other federations in the coming weeks.
Inland Fisheries Ireland has a wide and diverse range of stakeholders covering the environmental, ecological, commercial fishing, sea angling and inland angling sectors as well as statutory and other public bodies. Relations with the vast majority of stakeholders is positive, supportive and professional.
IFI engages with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation from local and regional fisheries staff, project co-ordinators for the National Strategy for Angling Development, researchers and scientific staff up to senior managers. This is indicative of a very high level of constructive engagement with the various stakeholder groups.
Productive engagement needs to be based on mutually considerate participation to support cooperation across all the component disciplines of the representative angling stakeholder base in particular. I am leading on positive, inclusive and consensual discussions for the benefit of the entire angling sector acting in a unified manner for the good of angling.
In view of the number of related questions which the Deputy has tabled in recent weeks, I would be happy to arrange a briefing for him with senior officials of the Department and IFI.
