Inland Fisheries Ireland welcomes safeguarding fisheries legislation and confirms protection operations continue as normal

Wednesday, 12th of July 2017: Inland Fisheries Ireland has welcomed the Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2017 (No.16 of 2017), following the signing of a commencement order by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten T.D yesterday.

The Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2017 confirms the explicit power on Inland Fisheries Ireland to bring and prosecute summary proceedings for inland fisheries offences. This act resolves an issue concerning Inland Fisheries Ireland’s power to prosecute which arose in February 2017 and resulted in required amendments to the fisheries legislation.

In February, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment informed Inland Fisheries Ireland that it had received legal advice to the effect that Inland Fisheries Ireland did not have explicit power to prosecute offences under the Fisheries Acts. The Department also advised that pending the enactment of amending legislation, which was urgently progressed, Inland Fisheries Ireland summonses for such offences before the Courts were, regrettably, not able to proceed.

The legislation commenced yesterday confirms that Inland Fisheries Ireland has the power to prosecute once again for offences under the Fisheries Acts. In the interim period since the legislative issue came to light, Fisheries Officers continued to work as normal with the detection of offences continuing in the intervening period. This means that any offences detected during the past six month period will now be able to proceed to prosecution in the normal manner.

Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “We welcome the commencement of this new legislation which safeguards our ability to prosecute, and as a result, protects our fisheries resource which is of significant environmental, social and economic value to our country. This means that our staff can continue to ensure that this valuable natural resource is protected, conserved, managed and developed for the communities it serves across Ireland.”

Inland Fisheries Ireland has worked closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment which has been advised by the Attorney General throughout the process. For more information, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie .

ENDS

For media information:

Órla Sheils
Communications Manager
Inland Fisheries Ireland
E: orla.sheils@fisheriesireland.ie
T: 01 8842673

Note to Editors:

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Inland Fisheries Ireland promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland also develops policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling and advises the Minister on same.