FCILC JC 26 October 2001

1. A meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Sectoral format was held in Bundoran, Co. Donegal on 26 October, 2001. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the , Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC), which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies. The functions of the FCILC in relation to the and Carlingford Areas are exercised through an agency of the body known as the Loughs Agency. The functions of the body in relation to the General Lighthouse Authority for the island of Ireland will be exercised through an agency of the Body to be known as the Lights Agency.

2. The Irish Government was represented by Mr. Frank Fahey, T.D., Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. The Northern Ireland Administration Delegation comprised Mrs. Bríd Rodgers MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Mr. Dermot Nesbitt, MLA, Minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

3. The Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and the Chief Executive of the Loughs Agency, Mr Peter Savage, Lord Cooke of Islandreagh and Mr. Derick Anderson respectively, provided the Council with oral reports on progress to date in taking forward the work of the Agency. This included progress in all of the areas of responsibility of the Loughs Agency including salmon and inland fisheries, marine tourism and aquaculture and shellfisheries. The Ministers praised the good work of the Agency and the Commission for so ably pressing ahead with its various programmes.

4. The Council approved the expenditure of IR£462,000, €587,000 Stg£370,000 towards the fit-out of the Loughs Agency's proposed Interpretive Centre. The Centre is to be situated within the Agency's Headquarters on the banks of the near the City of Londonderry. It will be fitted out with audio-visual display equipment of the highest standards so that it can encourage children and young people to work towards the long-term preservation of the important natural resources in the Agency's areas of operation. The Centre is to be opened in the second quarter of 2002.

5. The Council approved statutory Regulations that introduce coarse angling licences for both the and Carlingford Areas. No coarse angling licence had previously been available in the Area.

6. The new Regulations also provide for the harmonization of licence fees and take account of the introduction of the euro in the South.

7. The Council noted the Loughs Agency's proposal to engage in a two year genetic study of the salmon populations of the Area in association with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Queen's University of Belfast and the Marine Institute, Dublin. This will be the first ever examination of interaction between a rod fishery and underlying salmon population structure. The Study will provide an essential genetic perspective in the rational management of this resource, thus keeping the at the forefront of progressive and imaginative approaches to salmon management. The Study will also provide the first ever view on what is the fundamental unit of production in a complex river system.

8. The Council noted a progress report on primary legislation for the Loughs Agency and, also a report on the situation regarding the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

9. The Council agreed that the next meeting in this Sectoral format would take place in Northern Ireland in February.

Joint Secretariat

26 October 2001