Minister Rabbitte approves IFI membership of National Inland Fisheries Forum

04/08/11

The Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, TD, has approved the proposals of Inland Fisheries Ireland for membership of the National Inland Fisheries Forum.

The Minister is required to approve the membership of the Forum in accordance with the Inland Fisheries Act 2010.

Inland Fisheries Ireland was established in accordance with the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 replacing the central and regional fisheries boards. The Act requires Inland Fisheries Ireland to establish a National Inland Fisheries Forum (“the Forum”).

The role of the Forum is to provide advice on general policy issues relevant to the inland fisheries service both from a sectoral and geographic (River Basin District) perspective and specific issues referred to it by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Minister. The Forum provides for stakeholder participation in the sector and facilitates those who wish to make a contribution to the future conservation, management, protection, development of the resource.

The Public Appointments Service will shortly complete the selection exercise undertaken on behalf of Inland Fisheries Ireland and notify applicants of the outcome of the process.

Minister Rabbitte, in a message of encouragement to stakeholders, stated, “I believe that the establishment of the Forum will provide a meaningful channel of communication between the stakeholders and management of the inland fisheries resource. It will provide the various stakeholders with an opportunity to influence policies on how the resource is managed and developed in the current challenging economic climate and into the future”.

Notes for editors

The purpose and function of the Forum is set out in section 7(4)(a) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 which states:-

“IFI shall establish and manage a Forum “national inland fisheries Forum” to facilitate stakeholder input into policy formulation. This Forum shall consist of broad representation across such stakeholders of the inland fisheries sector as IFI considers relevant.”

The terms of reference of the Forum were agreed between the previous Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and IFI in accordance with section 7(4)(b) of the Act which states :

“The terms of reference, including membership, of the Forum established under subsection (4)(a) will be set by IFI with the agreement of the Minister.”

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) was requested by the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland to seek expressions of interest from individuals who wished to be considered to serve as a Member of the National Inland Fisheries Forum in February this year.

The PAS published a booklet which addressed, inter alia, the Role and Principal Functions of the National Inland Fisheries Forum; Essential Requirements for membership; the Principal Conditions of Service; and outlined the Selection Process employed. The booklet is available here.

Jade Fitzpatrick
Press Office
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
29 - 31 Adelaide Road
Dublin 2

Phone: 6782442