Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas
Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas
Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas
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[Deputy Pat Rabbitte.]<br />
Questions— 14 February 2012. <strong>Written</strong> <strong>Answers</strong><br />
capture <strong>of</strong> eels. There was no provision for compensation for those who previously engaged in<br />
this fishery on a commercial basis.<br />
The <strong>the</strong>n Central and Regional Fisheries Boards (now Inland Fisheries Ireland — IFI)<br />
engaged with <strong>the</strong> eel fishermen representatives to investigate possible diversification schemes;<br />
however, no specific funding was identified for diversification. I understand that a number <strong>of</strong><br />
former eel fishermen have been contracted by <strong>the</strong> ESB to undertake Trap and Transport<br />
operations to mitigate <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> hydropower schemes as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eel management plan.<br />
In June 2012, <strong>the</strong> status <strong>of</strong> eel in Ireland, and across Europe, will be reviewed as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
reporting requirement for <strong>the</strong> 2007 EU regulation. This will include a review <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> status <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> eel stocks nationally and <strong>the</strong> potential for commercial fishing in <strong>the</strong> future.<br />
This report will clarify and update <strong>the</strong> situation for eel fishery in Ireland and it will inform<br />
any decision to open <strong>the</strong> fishery or to keep it closed. In line with <strong>the</strong> conservation imperative,<br />
no eel fishing will be permitted in <strong>the</strong> interim.<br />
The status <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> European Eel in Ireland was recently defined as critically endangered<br />
(Ireland Amphibians, Reptiles and Freshwater Fish Red Data List, published in 2011). Scientific<br />
analysis estimated that 2007 Eel escapement (adults going to sea) was at 23% <strong>of</strong> pristine<br />
stock and declining. Due to <strong>the</strong> very long cycle and slow growth in Irish waters it is probable<br />
that any recovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Irish eel stocks will be over a very long time frame.<br />
Sheirbhísí Craolacháin<br />
400. D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha<br />
an raibh comhráite aige le RTÉ maidir leis na ciorrui<strong>the</strong> atá déanta ag RTÉ ar sheirbhísí trí<br />
Ghaeilge ar na bealaí craolacháin ar fad atá acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.<br />
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Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte): Bhuail<br />
mé le RTÉ ar roinnt ócáidí le bliain anuas maidir le réimse leathan ábhar. Ina measc sin, bhí<br />
an aeráid reatha eacnamaíochta agus an tionchar atá aige sin ar RTÉ idtéarmaí a dheacrachtaí<br />
maoini<strong>the</strong>. Is craoltóir náisiúnta neamhspleách seirbhíse poiblí íRTÉ ar a bhfuil an sainchúram<br />
agus na dualgais a léirítear san Acht Craolacháin 2009. Léiríonn Alt 114 den Acht na príomh<br />
cuspóirí ag RTÉ, ina measc an ceanglas go soláthraí sí réimse cuimsi<strong>the</strong>ach clár san dá <strong>the</strong>anga,<br />
Gaeilge agus Béarla, a léiríonn éagsúlacht chultúrtha oileán nahÉireann ina iomláine.<br />
Leagtar ar RTÉ ag Alt 102 den Acht go bhfoilsí sí Ráiteas Bliantúil i dtaobh Gealltanas<br />
Feidhmíochta ar aon dul lena cuid cuspóirí agus na gníomhaíochtaí a bheadh i gceist ag RTÉ<br />
gealltanas a thabhairt ina dtaobh san mbliain airgeadais úd san áireamh ann. Leagtar ar RTÉ<br />
sa bhreis ar sin ag an Acht go ndéana Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann athbhreithniú ar RTÉ<br />
ar bhonn an Ráitis i dtaobh an Ghealltanais Feidhmíochta arna fhoilsiú aici. Le déanaí fuair<br />
mé an Ráiteas i dtaobh Gealltanas Feidhmíochta de chuid RTÉ don mbliain 2012 agus ní<br />
amháin go léiríonn RTÉ ann a tiomantas do chlársceidealú na Gaeilge ach go seasann sí lena<br />
tiomantas ann freisin.<br />
Foráiltear faoi Alt 98 go mbeidh RTÉ neamhspleách agus í i mbun a cuid cuspóirí a chur i<br />
bhfeidhm, faoi réir ceanglas an Achta, agus uaidh sin níl aon gnó agamsa, i gcáil dom mar Aire,<br />
i mbainistíocht ar chúrsaí RTÉ ólá go lá, agus cúrsaí a bhaineann lena cuid craolacháin i leith<br />
na Gaeilge san áireamh. I gcáil dom mar Aire, áfach, táim go hiomlán sásta go bhfuil RTÉ ag<br />
comhlíonadh a cuid dualgas i leith na Gaeilge, mura bhfuil sí ag dul thairis sin. Rud eile dhe,<br />
creidim go bhfuil an reachtaíocht láidir go leor chun féachaint chuige go leanann RTÉ<br />
d’athláithriú agus de chur chun cinn na Gaeilge.<br />
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