Sir, - Irish anglers are under threat once again. On November 5th the Minister introduced the Fishery Amendment Bill 1999. He intends, without circulating a Green Paper, to sign this Bill into law on December 14th.
Part of this Bill is to enable the formation of a central fisheries board comprising nominees of the Minister, plus representatives of agriculture, forestry, tourism, local government, aquaculture and the Department of the Environment, but excluding representation by angling interests.
What this means is that all the agencies that have contributed to the pollution of our waters and the destruction of fisheries actively or passively are to have a voice on the board. Anglers are to be punished by exclusion because they have blown the whistle so loudly and so often that the EU is insisting on Irish compliance.
Anglers, over their fishing lifetimes, have more knowledge, care more, and have a far greater interest in water quality than all the Minister's minions who have proved, over and over again, that they do not care.
This Bill is a public relations exercise to reassure tourists and other users of our filthy water that all is being taken care of despite the fact that our waters are being polluted steadily.
Irish waters are very sick, and Killarney is a case in point. The judiciary are not without blame in this matter. The piddling fines levied on those responsible for massive fish kills and gross pollution incidents are a scandal. - Yours, etc.,
John A. Cullinane, Coolroe Heights, Ballincollig, Cork.