Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2024
141. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and the inland fisheries division will introduce legislation that reflects the stated position of the statutory body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30752/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, to provide for the most robust, modern, comprehensive, and sustainable management of SAC designated waters, I had requested Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) the national authority for the protection, conservation and development of the inland fisheries resource, to prepare and submit to me a comprehensive draft management plan for all waters within the Great Western Lakes including the Corrib SAC. This Plan, aims to address some of the many factors that impact on the ecological well-being and the status of native fish stocks in the catchments of the Great Western Lakes.
Following a lengthy public consultation process, this plan was advanced through the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment processes and a series of recommendations will be presented by IFI for my approval soon. Any legislative change that may be considered for SAC-designated waters will be done so in the context of this plan.
