22. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason there have been repeated stockings of invasive/non-native rainbow trout into Lough Lene SAC, County Westmeath over a protracted period of time, considering that his Department officials never issued Section 14 authorisations under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 for the stocking of the species into the said waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46191/26]

No Section 14 authorisation was issued in respect of the activity referred to in the Question.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the statutory body with responsibility for the protection, management and conservation of the State’s inland fisheries and sea angling resource. IFI was established under the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 and activities undertaken by IFI in the exercise of its statutory functions are carried out in accordance with the powers conferred on it by that Act.

Section 59(1) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 provides IFI with powers to implement fisheries management measures, including measures intended to alter or regulate the stock in a fishery of fish of one or more particular species. Stocking activities are undertaken by IFI pursuant to this statutory power.