A motion signed by city councillors has called on the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI ) and the Board of IFI to urgently remove the Salmon Cages at the Queens Gap and the Eel Cages at Salmon Weir Bridge.
The motion was passed to eliminate a detrimental health and safety risk for rescue workers in the emergency services. This follows urgent calls from Galway Fire brigade, RNLI, Claddagh Watch and family members who have lost someone who had entered the water.
Cllr Niall McNelis told the Advertiser that it is urgent that the steel structures that are attached to the permanent concrete pillars be removed.
“This is a no go area for emergency services, and any concerns about fish of course will be addressed by Inland Fisheries. Further up, the eel cages adjacent to Salmon Weir serve no purpose and are also a health and safety concern.
“This is not a Galway City Council property, the IFI have been told in the past about this issue and have bunched it into a wish list that includes an Ice House, the Fisheries Tower, while the real issue of health and safety gets diluted.
“The metal bars at the Queens Gap where salmon cages once operated serve no purpose and are extremely dangerous for Fire Service.
“The removal of these has been called for by RNLI, Galway Fire Brigade, City Council, An Garda, Civil Defence, Claddagh Watch, Coast Guard – all members of Water Safety Inter Agency Working Group.
This motion requests IFI to inform Galway City Council elected members as soon as possible or at the latest by the next Council Meeting in September 2023 when this will be done in the interest of Health & Safety for our emergency workers.
This motion was signed by Niall Mc Nelis, Mike Cubbard, Declan Mc Donnell, Donal Lyons, Terry O Flaherty, Noel Larkin, Alan Cheevers, Imelda Byrne, Cloddagh Higgins and Mayor Eddie Hoare
The motion also be copied to Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan who has responsibility for Inland Fisheries Ireland.
