Southern fisheries board severely criticised in report

THE Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Eamon Gilmore, is to appoint a commission to take over key functions of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board, following publication of a consultant's report.

The report, which was published late last night by the Department of the Marine, is severely critical of the operations of the board. It is understood that some of the allegations detailed in the report have been the subject of an intensive Garda investigation and a file has been with the Director of Public Prosecutions since last summer.

The report was carried out by Mr Dermot Rochford, a personnel consultant. Last year the Minister introduced amending legislation to enable him to take such action in relation to the board.

Mr Gilmore has confirmed that he has given the board 14 days' notice of his intention to transfer its management, conservation and protection functions to a commission, by an order under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1995.

Noting that the report emphasises the "valuable knowledge, commitment and voluntary efforts of the board", the Minister said that it would retain responsibility for all fisheries and angling development in the region, as well as for licensing and fisheries rates.

The Garda investigation into the board's operations was initiated on foot of evidence given in Waterford Circuit Court in December 1994, and a separate, but related, report to the gardai by a former chairman, Mr Bill Lawlor. Mr Lawlor died suddenly before he was due to be interviewed by detectives investigating the case.

Commenting on the background, Mr Gilmore said that the powers under the 1995 Act had been put in place following a review of existing provisions - prompted in turn by "recurring allegations concerning the southern board".

Last night, the board chairman, Mr Jim Butler, who is standing for re-election tomorrow, told The Irish Times that he envisaged there would be "no problems" in working with a commission.