Tuesday, 2nd December, 2003
Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, announced today that he has appointed a consortium comprising FGS (Farrell Grant Sparks) Consulting, CEFAS (the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and NIRSA (the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis) Maynooth NUI, to undertake a high level review of the Inland Fisheries sector in Ireland.
The Minister also announced that the review would be overseen by an independent Steering Group comprising Mr. Colm McCarthy from DKM Economic Consultants, Mr. David Mackey from P. Elliot and Company Ltd. and Mr. Michael Guilfoyle, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
The review is to be completed in two stages over six months and the Minister expects that stage one will be completed by the end of February 2004.
In commenting on the appointment, the Minister of State with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, Mr John Brown, TD reaffirmed his intention that this review would not just look at the Central and regional fisheries boards but would be a root and branch examination of his Department and the Government’s involvement in the governance of the sector as well as the involvement of other State agencies including the Marine Institute, BIM, ESB, Duchas, EPA and Bord Failte.
“I believe the review needs to be imaginative in examining proposals and I would strongly urge all stakeholders to cooperate with this review. The review presents stakeholders with a unique opportunity to participate in a fundamental examination of the inland fisheries sector and I would encourage all concerned to engage fully in the process with a view to building a consensus on a new model for the future”.
FGS Consulting, who will lead the consortium, have confirmed that they will shortly be
- placing public advertisements calling for submissions from all interested parties in hard or electronic copy;
- setting up an FGS website portal dedicated to the Review which will contain the Terms of Reference and provide instructions for making submissions or making comments on the Review for those wishing to use this medium of communications. (Details will be provided in the public advertisements);
-
organising a programme of meetings and interviews with key stakeholder interests at national and local level; and
-
organising a series of Regional Workshops, the arrangements for which will be published separately at a later date.