Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

Deputy Browne might want him in Wexford, but he can always stop off in Clonmel on the way.

He has a good feel for the industry. Fishing, agriculture and licensing should be closely linked. The Foreshore Act 1933 requires that a licence must be obtained from the State in advance of any works on State owned foreshore. It applies to jetties, slipways, marinas, fish farms, coastal wind and wave projects and to larger projects such as the Corrib gas development and the Ringsend incinerator. We can understand the reasons this is needed.

As of February 2011, there were 521 aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination, consisting of 271 applications for first-time licences and 250 renewal applications. That is a very positive situation, but it is unacceptable to have that many stacked up. The backlog for new licences and renewal applications arose from a number of things, but most areas for which the licences are being sought have been designated as special areas of conservation under the EU habitats directive, or special protection areas under the EU birds directive. We are all for preservation and conservation, and commend the previous Ministers of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Seán Connick, and Deputy Browne, and the honest efforts they made to deal with issues. I know from talking to them that it is a very hard area to crack.

However bad that was, it was made 1,000 times worse by the attempts of the former Minister, John Gormley, to rein it in under his Department and his ideas. I had major issues with the efforts made by the Green Party to implement policy and control different policies from different Departments. We had a similar problem with the nitrates directive. I know he did not bring in that directive, but he was adamant when enforcing them. It was the same regarding the time limits on spreading slurry. A farmer in Monaghan might not be allowed to spread his fertilizer, while a farmer in Fermanagh would be allowed to do so, even though there might be only an open drain dividing the two farms. These were nonsensical ideas. We were meeting with the former Minister and begging him to change his mind. Those issues should be related to the climate, rather than to calendar months, due to the kind of weather we have.

I would like to hear the Minister clarify his views on the new licence holders and what kind of stimulus he has in mind. There are jobs in this area waiting to go. It is wonderful that we have businesspeople, whether they are sole traders or co-operative groups, who are willing, ready and able to put a licence application together. They do not do this for fun. It is right that there are planning applications, but we need to cut out the bureaucracy. The fact that two Departments were involved the last time has left us a very bad legacy. I compliment the Government for putting it all back under one Department. It is a very wise move. We should support self-employed persons, who are mainly sole traders, and encourage them rather than try to frustrate them. There are instances of bad planning and we cannot have this. However, we need to cut out the bureaucracy. The planning process normally takes three months, although it could take up to 12 months. Surely if an application for a foreshore licence is made at the same time as a planning application, they should run in tandem. The Environmental Protection Agency is rightly involved, as are the NGOs. However, we may have lost investments as a result of too much bureaucracy.

The previous speaker, Deputy Colreavy, said that it cost a great deal to supply weed killer and to keep villages and towns tidy, but some of them are desolate. People who are interested in investing and have put plans together and secured funding should be facilitated. However, I do not know if they can wait and hold on to that funding. If one gets approval for funding from a bank for investment, one would want to spend it the following day because the next day and it might be cancelled, the manager might have been moved or somebody else could decide the investment is not viable.

We need to support these fishermen as there are many jobs involved. We are told by our colleagues who travel to Brussels to meet the Commission that imports into the EU total 50%. We know how badly the fishing industry fared from the deals during the years. It is the poor relation, although it has huge potential. Every job created is needed. The employment may be seasonal but it will be good employment and will result in spin off industry.

We must cut out the bureaucracy and have joined up thinking between the local authorities and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. If we must have consultation with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which is over the local authorities anyway, it must be logical. It must not be on silly issues and to satisfy the whim of some party of idealists. The Green Party in government was idealistic. It was fine in opposition but it was dangerous in government because it raised too many issues which frustrated the enthusiasm of business people in many areas.

There are 500 applications for licences stacked up in the system and I am surprised the European Union and the IMF are not looking at these areas and seeing the inefficiencies. I do not want to bash public servants, civil servants and local authorities but it is not acceptable in a modern economy, especially at a time like this, to have such backlogs and impediments put in the way of business people. I wish the Minister well.

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