Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2011. Like other Deputies, I welcome the Bill, the intention of which is to bring clarity to the overall position on foreshore licence applications. It is vitally important that it map clearly the responsibilities and roles of the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in adjudicating on such applications, including those from local authorities. As other Deputies said, difficulties are being caused by the backlog. A large number of foreshore licence applications, particularly those relating to aquaculture developments, are awaiting adjudication.

As the Minister said a couple of weeks ago, when Bord Bia brought representatives of 30 companies to a seafood show in Brussels, the companies' order books were filled on the first day of the event. This country's industry is unable to deliver enough produce and secure enough raw material to fill greater numbers of orders. Coastal areas, particularly in the north west and along the west coast, have huge potential in the fisheries sector. If the logjam can be broken and more licences brought on stream, such businesses can be developed. I know of a couple of companies in south-west Donegal which would be in a position to employ people immediately - to create between 25 and 30 jobs - if licence applications could be moved forward. This is an example of the huge potential that can be developed, particularly in rural Ireland. It is vitally important that we ensure people can have a sustainable future. As an island nation, we should be in a position to create jobs by adding value to this natural product and promoting it to the best of our ability.

After the Bill sets out clear lines of responsibility, we need to see progress in developing appropriate assessments of aquaculture developments in order that when applications for licences are made, the applicants will be able to receive clear instructions from the Department as to the requirements to be met in terms of the overall area and the particular SAC in which they might be looking to carry out a development. By doing this, we can open up the industry for significant development and create employment, which is vitally important. I hope the Minister will make these moves after the Bill has been enacted. I imagine there are other Departments which need to work together with him. I hope he will work to ensure this happens in order that appropriate assessments can be made and the logjam removed to ensure movement. It is difficult enough in the current climate to create jobs. We see the attempts being made in the jobs initiative, but here are initiatives that are ready to go. The Government has been slow within various Departments to map out the route to be taken by the promoters of developments. We need to get moving to ensure applicants for licences will be able to move forward as quickly as possible to allow development to take place. From looking at the background to the Bill, it is an attempt to break what might be one of the stumbling blocks in order that it will be clear within a Department whose responsibility it is to move applications forward. That stumbling block can be removed. If the appropriate assessments are made, we will see movement and a real jobs initiative in areas of the country crying out and badly in need of such an initiative. I fully support the Bill.

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