Allister slams DCAL over failure to consult on Eels ban
22 December 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has hit out at DCAL for failing to hold a formal consultation process in respect of legislation being drawn up to ban eel fishing in Lough Erne.
The MEP said,
“An Eel Management Plan has been produced for Lough Erne on a cross-border basis, as a requirement under a recent EU Regulation –while a consultation exercise was carried out by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Republic of Ireland, no equivalent formal consultation to ascertain the views of Northern Ireland stakeholders was undertaken by DCAL in Northern Ireland.”
“I am frankly amazed at the response of DUP Minister Gregory Campbell to my letter, in which I asked why no formal consultation had been carried out in Northern Ireland -Mr Campbell replied, “while a public consultation was led by the Irish Department, replies were considered by both Departments” -since when did Dublin assume responsibility for Northern Ireland’s internal affairs, and under a DUP Minister?”.
“20 to 30 eel fishermen from Northern Ireland are to lose full-time and part-time jobs under what appears to be a fait accompli. This appears to be another manifestation of the democratic deficit we are witnessing under the DUP/Sinn Fein administration.
The Eel Management plan forms DCAL’s strategy to adhering with the European Eel Regulation of 2007. On the basis that the Regulation in question links consultation with successful outworking, I have written to the European Fisheries Commissioner, alerting him to the absence of a formal consultation process in Northern Ireland vis-à vis these proposals.”
ENDS
