Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
255. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reasons for his failure to sign off the proposed Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations for the 2026 salmon angling season, which would be a matter of course every December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4201/26]
View answer256. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he accepts that the continued enforcement of S.I. No. 741/2024 [Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2024] into the 2026 salmon angling season is legally untenable considering that the appropriate assessment screening which underpins S.I. No. 741/2024 is not related to the generation of salmon that may enter Irish rivers in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4202/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme was established under section 69 of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010. While regulations under this section have typically been made in December, there is no requirement under section 69 to make regulations on an annual basis or at any specific time of the year.
A public consultation on draft regulations was conducted by my Department and generated a substantial number of submissions. These submissions, together with the scientific analysis provided by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) and Inland Fisheries Ireland, are under active consideration. No decision has been made yet on measures for the 2026 season and the existing regulations (S.I. No. 741 of 2024) will continue to apply until they are amended or replaced by new regulations.
The Appropriate Assessment screening carried out in respect of the existing regulations continues to apply for as long as those regulations remain in force. The availability of updated scientific analysis does not invalidate the assessment underpinning existing regulations. An Appropriate Assessment process will be undertaken in respect of any proposed changes to the regulatory regime.
