IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 10 of 2010
INLAND FISHERIES ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 3 April 2026
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the
Inland Fisheries Act 2010
. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under
the
Law Reform Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation
of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2026
(8/2026), enacted 31 Mach 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and
including the
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026
(S.I. No. 129 of 2026), made 2 April 2026, were considered in the preparation of
this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has
been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume
no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning
the
accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not
accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify
any
errors, omissions and comments by email to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
10
of
2010
INLAND FISHERIES ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 3 April 2026
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1. Short title, construction and collective citation.
2. Definitions.
3. Expenses.
4. Repeals.
5. Establishment day.
PART 2
Establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland
Chapter 1
Inland Fisheries Ireland
6. Inland Fisheries Ireland.
7. Functions of IFI.
8. Transfer of functions to IFI.
9. Regional operations of IFI.
10. Ministerial directions.
11. Seal of IFI.
12. Membership of IFI.
13. Election of staff representative to IFI.
14. Term of office of members of IFI.
15. Chairperson of IFI.
16. Role of IFI.
17. Conditions of office.
18. Removal of members from office.
19. Resignations and casual vacancies.
20. Meetings and procedures.
21. Committees of IFI.
22. Remuneration and expenses for members of IFI and committees.
23. Chief executive officer.
24. Functions of chief executive and their performance by deputy.
25. Delegation of functions.
26. Effects of delegation and sub-delegation of functions.
27. Certificate evidence concerning delegation of functions.
28. Chief executive to be accountable person.
29. Attendance of chief executive before Oireachtas Committee.
30. Employees.
31. Appointment of authorised persons.
32. Superannuation.
33. Staff schemes.
34. Consultants and advisers.
35. Standards of integrity.
36. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.
37. Protection from civil liability of persons who report certain misconduct.
38. Prohibition on penalisation.
39. False Statements.
40. Exclusion resulting from membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European
Parliament or local authorities.
41. IFI to prepare and submit corporate plan for Minister’s approval.
42. Publication and implementation of approved corporate plan.
43. Borrowings.
44. Estimates.
45. Grants to IFI.
46. Accounts of IFI.
47. Annual report of IFI.
Chapter 2
Transitional Arrangements
48. Dissolution of Central Board and regional boards.
49. Transfer of employees of Central Board and regional boards to IFI.
50. Transfer of pension liabilities relating to former employees of Central Board
and regional boards.
51. Transfer of property, assets and liabilities to IFI.
52. Preservation of contracts, etc. and adaptation of references.
53. Pending legal proceedings.
54. Preservation of notices, records, etc.
55. Final accounts of Central Board and regional boards.
56. IFI to prepare final annual report for Central Board and regional boards.
PART 3
Inland Fisheries Administration
Chapter 1
Fisheries Bye-laws
57. Fisheries bye-laws.
Chapter 2
Fishery Year
58. Fishery year.
Chapter 3
Fishery Improvement
59. Powers of IFI in relation to improvement of fisheries.
Chapter 4
Acquisition and Transfer of Fisheries, etc.
60. Acquisition of fisheries, etc.
61. Acquisition of portions of rivers or lakes contiguous to certain weir (freshwater)
fisheries.
62. Right of way (acquisition).
63. Transfer of fisheries to Minister or IFI by Commissioners.
64. Transfer of certain fisheries to IFI.
65. Compensation.
66. Arbitrator.
67. Provisions relating to orders made under
sections 60
,
61
,
62
or
63
.
68. Sale by Minister of certain fisheries, fishing rights and businesses.
Chapter 5
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme
69. Management of wild salmon and sea trout.
70. Provisions relating to certain offences under regulations made under
section 69
.
Chapter 6
Prohibitions
71. Prohibition of sale of certain fish.
72. Prohibition of sale of certain nets or netting.
Chapter 7
Register of Sea Anglers
73. Register of sea anglers.
Chapter 8
Issue of Licences for Fishing of a Specified Class or Description
74. Issue by IFI of licences for fishing of specified class or description.
PART 4
Legal Proceedings, Penalties, etc.
75. Certain offences to be tried on indictment.
76. Jurisdiction.
77. Alteration of certain penalties under the Principal Act, the Act of 1962 or the
Act of 1994.
78. Forfeiture of licences and consequential disqualification orders.
79. Payment of certain fines as compensation — delivery of oysters or other fish.
80. Fixed charge notice.
80A. Summary proceedings.
PART 5
Miscellaneous
81. Certain rights to fish given to former life members of Trust.
82. Powers of Minister in operating a fishery.
83. Liability of Minister or IFI for damage by flooding.
SCHEDULE 1
Repeal of Existing Enactments
SCHEDULE 2
Consequential Amendments of Certain Acts
PART 1
Amendment of Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959
PART 2
Amendment of Wildlife Act 1976
PART 3
Amendment of Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977
PART 4
Amendment of Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1977
PART 5
Amendment of Ombudsman Act 1980
PART 6
Amendment of Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act 1990
PART 7
Amendment of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1991
PART 8
Amendment of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1995
PART 9
Amendment of Dumping at Sea Act 1996
PART 10
Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1997
PART 11
Amendment of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997
PART 12
Amendment of Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997
PART 13
Amendment of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997
PART 14
Amendment of Official Languages Act 2003
PART 15
Amendment of Maritime Safety Act 2005
SCHEDULE 3
Consequential Amendments of Certain Statutory Instruments
PART 1
Amendment of Superannuation (Designation of Approved Organisations) Regulations 1981
(S.I. No. 437 of 1981)
PART 2
Amendment of Local Government (Water Pollution) Regulations 1992 (S.I. No. 271 of
1992)
PART 3
Amendment of Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order
1993 (S.I. No. 394 of 1993)
PART 4
Amendment of Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing) Regulations 1994 (S.I. No.
85 of 1994)
PART 5
Amendment of Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing Fees) Regulations 1994 (S.I.
No. 130 of 1994)
PART 6
Amendment of District Court Rules 1997 (S.I. No. 93 of 1997)
PART 7
Amendment of Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 236 of 1998)
PART 8
Amendment of Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 442 of 1998)
PART 9
Amendment of Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order
1999 (S.I. No. 226 of 1999)
PART 10
Amendment of European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations
2001 (S.I. No. 538 of 2001)
PART 11
Amendment of Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 600 of 2001)
PART 12
Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) (No. 2) Regulations
2002 (S.I. No. 530 of 2002)
PART 13
Amendment of European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 722 of
2003)
PART 14
Amendment of Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 395 of 2004)
PART 15
Amendment of European Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006 (S.I.
No. 268 of 2006)
PART 16
Amendment of Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 684
of 2007)
SCHEDULE 4
Redress for Contravention of
Section
38
SCHEDULE 5
Provisions Referred to in
Sections 60
,
61
and
62
SCHEDULE 6
Fixed Charge Notice
PART 1
Provision of Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959
PART 2
Bye-laws made or deemed to have been made under
Section
57
Acts Referred to
Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act 1919
1919, c. 57
Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005
Carer’s Leave Act 2001
2001, No. 19
Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 and 1958
Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993
1993, No. 8
Courts Act 1981
1981, No. 11
Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961
1961, No. 39
Dumping at Sea Act 1996
1996, No. 14
Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006
2006, No. 9
Ethics in Public Office Act 1995
1995, No. 22
European Parliament Elections Act 1997
1997, No. 2
Fisheries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1987
1987, No. 32
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1962
1962, No. 31
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1964
1964, No. 23
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1976
1976, No. 23
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1987
1987, No. 14
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1991
1991, No. 26
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1994
1994, No. 23
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1995
1995, No. 27
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997
1997, No. 23
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999
1999, No. 35
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2000
2000, No. 34
Fisheries (Commissions) Act 1997
1997, No. 1
Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959
1959, No. 14
Fisheries Act 1980
1980, No. 1
Fisheries Acts 1959 to 1999
Forestry Acts 1919 and 1928
Forestry Acts 1946 to 1988
Freedom of Information Act 1997
1997, No. 13
Heritage Act 1995
1995, No. 4
Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845
1845, c. 18
Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977
1977, No. 1
Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act 1990
1990, No. 21
Local Government Act 2001
2001, No. 37
Maritime Safety Act 2005
2005, No. 11
Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004
Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005
Official Languages Act 2003
2003, No. 32
Ombudsman Act 1980
1980, No. 26
Organisation of Working Time Act 1997
1997, No. 20
Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006
Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006
Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997
1997, No. 31
Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003
2003, No. 29
Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001
2001, No. 45
Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004
2004, No. 33
Redundancy Payments Act 1967
1967, No. 21
Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007
Registration of Title Act 1964
1964, No. 16
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
2005, No. 10
Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006
2006, No. 8
Standards in Public Office Act 2001
2001, No. 31
Superannuation and Pensions Act 1976
1976, No. 22
Taxes Consolidation Act 1997
1997, No. 39
Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001
Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007
Water Services Act 2007
2007, No. 30
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000
2000, No. 38
Wildlife Act 1976
1976, No. 39
Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1977
1977, No. 6
Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1988
1988, No. 13
Number
10
of
2010
INLAND FISHERIES ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 3 April 2026
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A BODY TO BE KNOWN AS, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, INLAND FISHERIES
IRELAND OR, IN THE IRISH LANGUAGE,
IASCACH INTÍRE ÉIREANN
AND TO DEFINE ITS FUNCTIONS, TO DISSOLVE THE CENTRAL FISHERIES BOARD AND REGIONAL
FISHERIES BOARDS, TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE FOREGOING AND TO
AMEND AND EXTEND THE FISHERIES ACTS 1959 TO 2007.
[1
st June
, 2010]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
References in Act to employer construed for certain purposes as being to Inland Fisheries
Ireland (1.08.2015) by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 3(5), S.I. No. 338 of 2015.
Construction of references to employer and employee
3.
...
(5) For the purpose of the
operation of this Act, and to the extent only that this Act applies, in relation
to the
Inland Fisheries Act 2010
(in this subsection referred to as the
“Act of 2010”), references in this Act to employer shall be construed as
references to IFI within the meaning of the Act of 2010.
...
C2
Functions transferred and references to “Department of
Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (20.09.2011) by
Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)
(No. 2) Order 2011
(S.I. No. 480 of 2011), arts. 2, 3(a), 4 and sch., in
operation as per art. 1(2).
2. (1) The administration
and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any
functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform.
(2) References to the
Department of Finance contained in any Act or any instrument made thereunder and
relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall,
from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department
of Public Expenditure and Reform.
3. The functions conferred
on the Minister for Finance by or under—
(
a
) the provisions
of the enactments specified in the Schedule, and
...
are transferred to the Minister
for Public Expenditure and Reform.
4. References to the
Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument made under an Act and
relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement
of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure
and Reform.
SCHEDULE
Enactments
Number and Year
Short Title
Provision
(1)
(2)
(3)
...
...
...
No. 10 of 2010
Inland Fisheries Act 2010
Sections 7(3)(j), 18(8), 22(3), 30(2), 45, 60(1), 63(1), 64(1), 65(2), 68(1) and (2),
73(6)(a), 82(2) and Schedule 5, paragraph 9(a)
...
...
...
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
References in Act to employer construed for certain purposes as being to Inland Fisheries
Ireland (1.08.2015) by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 3(5), S.I. No. 338 of 2015.
Construction of references to employer and employee
3.
...
(5) For the purpose of the
operation of this Act, and to the extent only that this Act applies, in relation
to the
Inland Fisheries Act 2010
(in this subsection referred to as the
“Act of 2010”), references in this Act to employer shall be construed as
references to IFI within the meaning of the Act of 2010.
...
C2
Functions transferred and references to “Department of
Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (20.09.2011) by
Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)
(No. 2) Order 2011
(S.I. No. 480 of 2011), arts. 2, 3(a), 4 and sch., in
operation as per art. 1(2).
2. (1) The administration
and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any
functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform.
(2) References to the
Department of Finance contained in any Act or any instrument made thereunder and
relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall,
from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department
of Public Expenditure and Reform.
3. The functions conferred
on the Minister for Finance by or under—
(
a
) the provisions
of the enactments specified in the Schedule, and
...
are transferred to the Minister
for Public Expenditure and Reform.
4. References to the
Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument made under an Act and
relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement
of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure
and Reform.
SCHEDULE
Enactments
Number and Year
Short Title
Provision
(1)
(2)
(3)
...
...
...
No. 10 of 2010
Inland Fisheries Act 2010
Sections 7(3)(j), 18(8), 22(3), 30(2), 45, 60(1), 63(1), 64(1), 65(2), 68(1) and (2),
73(6)(a), 82(2) and Schedule 5, paragraph 9(a)
...
...
...
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1. Short title, construction and collective citation.
2. Definitions.
3. Expenses.
4. Repeals.
5. Establishment day.
PART 2
Establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland
Chapter 1
Inland Fisheries Ireland
6. Inland Fisheries Ireland.
7. Functions of IFI.
8. Transfer of functions to IFI.
9. Regional operations of IFI.
10. Ministerial directions.
11. Seal of IFI.
12. Membership of IFI.
13. Election of staff representative to IFI.
14. Term of office of members of IFI.
15. Chairperson of IFI.
16. Role of IFI.
17. Conditions of office.
18. Removal of members from office.
19. Resignations and casual vacancies.
20. Meetings and procedures.
21. Committees of IFI.
22. Remuneration and expenses for members of IFI and committees.
23. Chief executive officer.
24. Functions of chief executive and their performance by deputy.
25. Delegation of functions.
26. Effects of delegation and sub-delegation of functions.
27. Certificate evidence concerning delegation of functions.
28. Chief executive to be accountable person.
29. Attendance of chief executive before Oireachtas Committee.
30. Employees.
31. Appointment of authorised persons.
32. Superannuation.
33. Staff schemes.
34. Consultants and advisers.
35. Standards of integrity.
36. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.
37. Protection from civil liability of persons who report certain misconduct.
38. Prohibition on penalisation.
39. False Statements.
40. Exclusion resulting from membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European
Parliament or local authorities.
41. IFI to prepare and submit corporate plan for Minister’s approval.
42. Publication and implementation of approved corporate plan.
43. Borrowings.
44. Estimates.
45. Grants to IFI.
46. Accounts of IFI.
47. Annual report of IFI.
Chapter 2
Transitional Arrangements
48. Dissolution of Central Board and regional boards.
49. Transfer of employees of Central Board and regional boards to IFI.
50. Transfer of pension liabilities relating to former employees of Central Board
and regional boards.
51. Transfer of property, assets and liabilities to IFI.
52. Preservation of contracts, etc. and adaptation of references.
53. Pending legal proceedings.
54. Preservation of notices, records, etc.
55. Final accounts of Central Board and regional boards.
56. IFI to prepare final annual report for Central Board and regional boards.
PART 3
Inland Fisheries Administration
Chapter 1
Fisheries Bye-laws
57. Fisheries bye-laws.
Chapter 2
Fishery Year
58. Fishery year.
Chapter 3
Fishery Improvement
59. Powers of IFI in relation to improvement of fisheries.
Chapter 4
Acquisition and Transfer of Fisheries, etc.
60. Acquisition of fisheries, etc.
61. Acquisition of portions of rivers or lakes contiguous to certain weir (freshwater)
fisheries.
62. Right of way (acquisition).
63. Transfer of fisheries to Minister or IFI by Commissioners.
64. Transfer of certain fisheries to IFI.
65. Compensation.
66. Arbitrator.
67. Provisions relating to orders made under
sections 60
,
61
,
62
or
63
.
68. Sale by Minister of certain fisheries, fishing rights and businesses.
Chapter 5
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme
69. Management of wild salmon and sea trout.
70. Provisions relating to certain offences under regulations made under
section 69
.
Chapter 6
Prohibitions
71. Prohibition of sale of certain fish.
72. Prohibition of sale of certain nets or netting.
Chapter 7
Register of Sea Anglers
73. Register of sea anglers.
Chapter 8
Issue of Licences for Fishing of a Specified Class or Description
74. Issue by IFI of licences for fishing of specified class or description.
PART 4
Legal Proceedings, Penalties, etc.
75. Certain offences to be tried on indictment.
76. Jurisdiction.
77. Alteration of certain penalties under the Principal Act, the Act of 1962 or the
Act of 1994.
78. Forfeiture of licences and consequential disqualification orders.
79. Payment of certain fines as compensation — delivery of oysters or other fish.
80. Fixed charge notice.
80A. Summary proceedings.
PART 5
Miscellaneous
81. Certain rights to fish given to former life members of Trust.
82. Powers of Minister in operating a fishery.
83. Liability of Minister or IFI for damage by flooding.
SCHEDULE 1
Repeal of Existing Enactments
SCHEDULE 2
Consequential Amendments of Certain Acts
PART 1
Amendment of Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959
PART 2
Amendment of Wildlife Act 1976
PART 3
Amendment of Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977
PART 4
Amendment of Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1977
PART 5
Amendment of Ombudsman Act 1980
PART 6
Amendment of Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act 1990
PART 7
Amendment of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1991
PART 8
Amendment of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1995
PART 9
Amendment of Dumping at Sea Act 1996
PART 10
Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1997
PART 11
Amendment of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997
PART 12
Amendment of Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997
PART 13
Amendment of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997
PART 14
Amendment of Official Languages Act 2003
PART 15
Amendment of Maritime Safety Act 2005
SCHEDULE 3
Consequential Amendments of Certain Statutory Instruments
PART 1
Amendment of Superannuation (Designation of Approved Organisations) Regulations 1981
(S.I. No. 437 of 1981)
PART 2
Amendment of Local Government (Water Pollution) Regulations 1992 (S.I. No. 271 of
1992)
PART 3
Amendment of Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order
1993 (S.I. No. 394 of 1993)
PART 4
Amendment of Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing) Regulations 1994 (S.I. No.
85 of 1994)
PART 5
Amendment of Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing Fees) Regulations 1994 (S.I.
No. 130 of 1994)
PART 6
Amendment of District Court Rules 1997 (S.I. No. 93 of 1997)
PART 7
Amendment of Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 236 of 1998)
PART 8
Amendment of Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 442 of 1998)
PART 9
Amendment of Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order
1999 (S.I. No. 226 of 1999)
PART 10
Amendment of European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations
2001 (S.I. No. 538 of 2001)
PART 11
Amendment of Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 600 of 2001)
PART 12
Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) (No. 2) Regulations
2002 (S.I. No. 530 of 2002)
PART 13
Amendment of European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 722 of
2003)
PART 14
Amendment of Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 395 of 2004)
PART 15
Amendment of European Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006 (S.I.
No. 268 of 2006)
PART 16
Amendment of Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 684
of 2007)
SCHEDULE 4
Redress for Contravention of
Section
38
SCHEDULE 5
Provisions Referred to in
Sections 60
,
61
and
62
SCHEDULE 6
Fixed Charge Notice
PART 1
Provision of Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959
PART 2
Bye-laws made or deemed to have been made under
Section
57