Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also congratulate Ms Reynolds on her appointment and wish her well in performing her future tasks.

There has been one very contentious salmon farm licence application regarding its scale and size, as well as the dangers of escapes and the effects of lice on organic natural salmon. I would like to know more about the criteria used in the appeals process. Is it similar to the planning process? Will it be incumbent on Ms Reynolds and the board to meet communities affected by aquacultural projects? Are there planning guidelines regarding the effects of aquaculture on natural species? If there is wholesale opposition to a project being located in a particular area, will this have any bearing on the Aquaculture Licenses Appeals Board's decision-making? If possible, I would like to be furnished with the guidelines under which the board has to work and which form its opinions. I assume the appeals process affects both those in opposition and those who have been refused such that they have the option of having an application re-examined.