The Executive Council of FISSTA were looking forward to the outcome of the
the Salmon Commission last Tuesday as progress was anticipated following
their positive meeting with Minister Fahey and the large protest march in
Galway and Fermoy. Unfortunately, this crucial meeting was cancelled on
Monday evening at very short notice. The FISSTA member on the NSC had
already traveled to Lismore from Athlone to learn the news as did several
other of the 20 members. No meeting took place and therefore no progress.
It is even more unusual that not one word from the Chairman Wilkins or the
Dept has yet been issued in explanation. We are now into our second month
of tagging and protests and still no deliberations from the NSC have been
made since FISSTA first raised them last May 2000. Time is of the essence
so we await an urgent re commencement . In the meantime such urgent
cancellation certainly requires an explanation to all the voluntary people
who once again wasted time traveling to Lismore in vain.

We had agreed with the Minister that after the NSC meeting he would meet us
to discuss our conservational concerns. We now assume our meeting with the
Minister will not now take place this week until after the next NSC meeting.
In the meantime the protest campaign
continues to gather further momentum as RFB's and Urban District Councils
throughout the country table and pass resolutions in favour of our
campaign. The next demonstration is planned for Listowel in the first week
of March. It is now being planned as a large demonstration, but anglers are
optimists and we hope it will
hopefully transform into a celebration depending on events entirely within
the control of the Minister and the NSC.

We await the outcome with hope.