Restructuring of the Inland Fisheries Sector.
On 1 July 2010 Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) was established replacing the Central and 7 Regional Fisheries Boards. The principal role of IFI is the protection and conservation of the State’s inland fisheries resource. It is also required to promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, marketing, development and improvement of the inland fisheries resource.
For further information on Inland Fisheries Ireland, please visit their new website currently under construction at www.fisheriesireland.ie.
Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (Establishment Day) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 262 of 2010).
In accordance with section 5 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 the Minister has made an Order designating the 1st July as the day on which the Act comes into operation.
A copy of the Establishment Day Order S.I. No. 262 of 2010 is available please click here.
Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (No. 10 of 2010)
The Inland Fisheries Bill 2009 was signed by the President on Tuesday 1st June 2010 and is now the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (No. 10 of 2010).
A copy of the Act will be available here shortly.
Inland Fisheries Bill 2009.
The Inland Fisheries Bill 2009 which gives effect to the proposed restructuring of the inland fisheries sector was published on the 18 November 2009.
The Bill sets out the statutory basis for the establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland, the single body which will replace the existing Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, the functions of the new body and the corporate governance provisions by which it will be bound. The Bill also provides for the dissolution of the Central Fisheries Board and seven Regional Fisheries Boards.
In the interest of better regulation and in order to ensure that the maximum number of provisions pertaining to the new body are contained in a single statute, the Bill also contains the restatement of various provisions of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, the Fisheries Act 1980, the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999 and the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2000 which deal with administrative and legal matters concerning inland fisheries. The Bill also increases monetary penalties for inland fisheries offences in line with the consumer price index since first introduced in order to bring them in line with current values.
A copy of the Bill is available please click here 
A copy of the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum is available please click here
A copy of the revised Screening Regulatory Impact Analysis is available please click here 
Further information on the Bill is available at www.oireachtas.ie
Earnáil an Iascaigh Intíre a Atheagrú.
An Bille um Iascach Intíre 2009.
Foilsíodh an Bille um Iascach Intíre 2009 a chuireann i bhfeidhm an togra chun earnáil an iascaigh intíre a atheagrú an 18ú Samhain 2009.
Léirítear san mBille an bonn reachtúil chun Iascach Intíre Éireann a bhunú, an t‑eagras amháin a thógfaidh áit an Phríomhbhoird Iascaigh agus áit na mBord Iascaigh Réigiúnach maraon le feidhmeanna an eagrais nua agus na forálacha um rialú corparáideach a cheanglófar air. Foráiltear freisin faoin mBille do dhíscaoileadh an Phríomhbhoird Iascaigh agus do dhíscaoileadh na mBord Iascaigh Réigiúnach.
D’fhonn rialuithe feabhsaithe agus chun a chinntiú go gcuimsítear a oiread agus is féidir de na forálacha a bhaineann leis an eagras nua san aon reacht amháin, tá freisin san mBille athrá ar forálacha éagsúla den Acht Iascaigh (Comhdhlúthú) 1959, den Acht Iascaigh 1980, den Acht Iascaigh (Leasú) 1999 agus den Acht Iascaigh (Leasú) 2000 a bhaineann le ceisteanna riaracháin agus le ceisteanna dlíthiúla um iascach intíre. Ina theannta sin méadaítear leis an mBille pionóis airgid maidir le cionta iascaigh intíre ar aon dul le hathruithe san innéacs praghsanna tomhaltóirí ó thógadh isteach iad ar dtúis chun luach an lae inniu a chur orthu.
Budget Day Announcement – October 2008
In his Budget 2009 speech the Minister for Finance announced the rationalisation of a number of State bodies. As part of this process, a new national inland fisheries authority is to be established which will replace the existing Central Fisheries Board and seven Regional Fisheries Boards.
Amending legislation is required to deliver the new body and this will be brought through the legislative process in the autumn. The new Authority will be in place before the end of 2009. A summary of the restructuing proposals and details of the draft scheme of Bill are set out in the following document.
Summary of proposals and details of draft scheme of bill to give effect to the restructuring
Proposals for Restructuring of the Sector
The restructuring of the sector will involve the following:-
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The creation of a single strengthened national inland fisheries authority, to be known as Inland Fisheries Ireland. Given the nature of inland fisheries the new Authority will be organised with a strong regional presence and will be aligned on the basis of 6 River Basin Districts.
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The dissolution of the Central and seven Regional Fisheries Boards.
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The dissolution of the eight Trout and Coarse Fisheries Co-operative Societies and the establishment of a grant scheme for local development groups which will be administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland and implemented within existing resources previously deployed through the Co-operative Societies.
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The establishment of appropriate advisory fora, based around a national inland fisheries forum, to be established and managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland, the deliberations of which will extend to all species of inland fisheries and will inform the development of policies on conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of the State's resource.
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The cessation of the National Salmon Commission. The Standing Scientific Committee of the National Salmon Commission will be retained but will be established in its own right and will operate under the aegis of Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Restructuring Implementation Group
A small group chaired by the Department with representation on behalf of the existing Central and Regional Fisheries Boards has been established to guide the implementation of the restructuring of the sector.
The Restructuring Implementation Group is developing the key features and structures of the new model, including the management structure of the new authority. The Group is also devising appropriate transitional arrangements to ensure a smooth changeover to the new structures.
The members of the restructuring implementation group are:-
Mr. Eamonn Molloy, Assistant Secretary, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,
Mr. Frank Sheridan, Principal Officer, Department of Communuications, Energy and Natural Resources,
Dr. Ciaran Byrne, CEO, Central Fisheries Board,
Mr. Kieran Murphy, Director of Human Resources, Central Fisheries Board,
Mr. Vincent Roche, CEO, North Western Regional Fisheries Board,
Mr. Eamon Cusack, CEO, Shannon Regional Fisheries Board.
Restructuring of the Inland Fisheries Sector Bill 2009 - Draft Heads of Bill
The draft Heads of Bill for the legislation required to give effect to the new structures were approved by Government in March 2009. In broad terms, the legislation will provide for the establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland, define its functions and the dissolution of the existing Central and Regional Fisheries Boards and the transfer of their functions to the new Authority. Details of the provisions of the draft Heads are set out in the attached document.
Summary of proposals and details of the draft scheme of bill to give effect to the restructuring
It must be noted that these provisions may be subject to change during the course of the drafting of the Bill.
Restructuring of the Inland Fisheries Sector Bill 2009 - Screening Regulatory Impact Analysis