FCILC JC 6 April 2001

North/South Ministerial Council

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC) Sector

Dublin, 6 April 2001

Joint Communiqué

1. A meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Sectoral format was held in The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, Dublin on 6 April 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, who chaired the meeting. The Northern Ireland Executive Delegation comprised Mrs Bríd Rodgers MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Mr Sam Foster MLA, Minister of the Environment.

Reports by Chairperson and Chief Executive of the Loughs Agency

3. The Chairperson and the Chief Executive of the Loughs Agency, Mr Peter Savage and Mr Derick Anderson respectively, provided the Council with oral reports on progress to date in taking forward the work of the Agency. The Chairperson advised the Council of the impact that the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak was having on the fisheries of the and Carlingford Areas and reported that the angling organisations and fisheries owners were adopting a very responsible approach to the current situation. He also reported on progress in all of the areas of responsibility of the Loughs Agency including salmon and inland fisheries, marine tourism and aquaculture and shellfisheries.

The Chief Executive provided details of the development of proposals for the regulation of shellfisheries and aquaculture and outlined the preparation of a strategy to encourage the development of marine tourism. He also reported on the conservation and protection operational issues relating to the salmon and inland fisheries of both catchments.

Proposals Agreed:-

Consultation with and Carlingford Fisheries Interests

4. The Council, at its previous meeting, authorised the Board of the FCILC to proceed with plans to establish an Advisory Forum and Focus Groups to ensure its management of the fisheries in the and Carlingford Areas takes account of all the relevant factors. Today's meeting heard a presentation by independent consultants that have been engaged by the Loughs Agency to draw up plans for selecting and appointing members to the Advisory Forum and Focus Groups. It is envisaged that representation in the Forum should be as wide as possible and that the Focus Groups should represent those directly affected by the work of the Agency i.e. Shellfishermen, Salmon Netsmen, Anglers and Angling Clubs, Fisheries Owners and Tourism Operators.

Equality Scheme - Loughs Agency

5. It is a requirement under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 for the Agency to prepare an Equality Scheme. The Council considered the Loughs Agency's Draft Equality Scheme, which has been amended following a process of public consultation, and agreed that the text should be submitted to the Equality Commission for its approval.

Re-grading of posts- Loughs Agency

6. The Council approved the Loughs Agency's proposal that the review of the Agency's staffing and structure be postponed for six months i.e. until January 2002. The Council also agreed that a review of the grading and salary of certain field staff posts be undertaken as soon as possible to ensure that the Agency is in a better position to recruit and retain staff in these important posts.

Approval of Draft Regulations - Loughs Agency

7. The Council approved the following three sets of regulations in regard to the Loughs Agency's areas of responsibilities:

Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Log Book) Regulations 2001 - These regulations provide for the tagging of caught and retained wild salmon and sea trout and the keeping of records in log books by commercial and recreational fishermen. These Regulations, mirroring Regulations already made by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, will provide for an improvement in the conservation and protection of salmon and sea trout and an improvement in the quality of management information available.
Area and Carlingford Area (Close Season for Angling) Regulations 2001 - These Regulations introduce a close season for angling for salmon and trout in the Carlingford Area, for the purposes of conserving and protecting salmon and trout in that area.
Area and Carlingford Area (Angling) Regulations 2001 - These regulations revoke the Area (Angling) Regulations 1999, which prohibited angling on the tidal part of the River . The 1999 Regulations were introduced as an anti-poaching measure but are no longer deemed necessary due to the introduction of the Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Log Book) Regulations 2001.

Other Issues Considered

Primary Legislation - Loughs Agency

8. The Council noted a progress report on primary legislation being brought forward in both jurisdictions to empower the FCILC to license and develop aquaculture and to exercise an inland fisheries development function in relation to Lough and Carlingford Lough.

Lights Agency

9. The Council noted a progress report on initial preparations for the transfer of the functions of the Commissioners of Irish Lights to the , Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. Both sides are agreed that the necessary amending legislation must be brought forward as soon as possible, in line with the British/Irish Agreement of 8th March, 1999 on Implementation Bodies.

Next Meeting

10. The Council agreed that the next meeting in this Sectoral format would take place in June 2001 in Northern Ireland.

Joint Secretariat
6 April 2001