Inland Fisheries Ireland board removed on ‘no-fault basis’

The body, with responsibility for protecting, managing and conserving Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources, was unable to carry out its functions effectively after the resignation of five members, including its chairperson, since April 2022.

Eamon Ryan, the minister for the environment, climate and communications, announced yesterday that he had exercised his powers under section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 to remove the remaining members of the board.

He also exercise his powers under section 18(5) of the Act to appoint two people, Tom Barry and Seamus Neely, to perform the functions of the IFI pending the appointment of a new, full board through the statutory appointments process.

Mr Barry and Mr Neely have been instructed to prioritise the full and prompt consideration of a number of protected disclosures which are understood to have been received by IFI in recent months, which could not be progressed by the board as a result of resignations.

They have also been instructed to oversee the preparation of a governance review of IFI to be delivered within a period of three to six months.