Fermoy weir safety
Deputy O'Keeffe raised the crumbling Fermoy weir, saying State bodies were unclear who should act and asking for fishing restrictions for safety. After the Ceann Comhairle noted it sounded more like a topical issue, the Minister of State said he would consult Inland Fisheries Ireland and the heritage minister and revert to the Deputy.
This might be fixable too. Fermoy town in north Cork has the lovely amenity of the River Blackwater flowing through it, providing immense tourism and sporting facilities for the area. However, there is a major problem in that the weir is crumbling. Three State bodies are mixed up about who is going to lead the project. I am bringing this to the floor of the House because this comes under the EU habitats directive, step four of which requires assessment and conservation, but we seem to be failing in that at the moment. The weir is in a dangerous state and if we get another flood on the River Blackwater, it could go. The fishermen are up in arms, as are members of the rowing club. Will the Taoiseach urge his Ministers to talk to the various bodies, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, the OPW-----
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I am trying to push this under the EU directive. In the interim, will the Taoiseach, under section 107 of the fisheries Act of 1959, ask that all fishing be prohibited within 100 metres of the weir in Fermoy?
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I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for the question. I will certainly raise this with Inland Fisheries Ireland and come back to the Deputy with a response. If there are safety issues, clearly, something needs to be done. I will also liaise with the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Humphreys, and revert to the Deputy on the matter.