Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
964. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the Fishery Harbour Centres (Amendment) Bill; when this Bill will move to the next Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27924/23]
View answerThe Fisheries Harbour Centres Act 1968 provides for the establishment of State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) as locations in which to promote and develop sea fishing activities. Since the introduction of the Act, six FHCs have been established in Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl. Overall responsibility for their management and operation rests with my Department. At the end of 2019, the six FHCs were valued at €456m. In 2021, just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the FHCs. In addition to the fisheries and seafood production industries, the FHCs are accommodating increasing amounts of diverse commercial business including commercial cargo traffic, restaurants and other leisure, tourism and social activities.
An amendment to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act is listed in the Legislative Programme. Since the Fishery Harbour Centres Act was established in 1968, there have only been a small number of amendments made for very minor specific purposes. My Department is in the process of reviewing proposals for amendment to the act and this process will involve consultation. The development of any Bill would follow on from these steps.
