Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The biggest issue is environmental concern in regard to industrial-scale fish cages at sea. Many concerns have been expressed by anglers and their associations who are fearful of damage to wild salmon and other wild fish stocks. Inland Fisheries Ireland has expressed concern too. When one hears those concerns being rightly expressed, one wonders to what extent they are proven to be founded. From what Dr. Beamish has said, however, it appears we are only in the process of establishing the environmental implications with appropriate assessments only having been carried out in 21 bays. I would be interested to hear the number of bays that remain to be assessed.

Dr. Beamish highlighted 492 determinations. What does that mean? Were some of these refused? How many were refused? How many were granted licences? Once the Department gets this information on the different bays, for example, the 12 bays, does the Department look retrospectively at some of these installations and fish farms to see what the environmental impact is and what steps towards mitigating an adverse environmental impact might be undertaken? We must be environmentally responsible.

We heard a presentation recently from Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, and I have discussed the matter with it. Aside from issues around sea lice, it sounds as though these salmon can have a devastating impact on wild salmon, including through interbreeding with them. They do not seem to follow the pattern or course as wild salmon and, ultimately, do not end up reproducing in the same fashion. It seems like we must take protective measures. I know it is not Dr. Beamish's field but there seem to be other issues around high levels of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins in farmed salmon and the fallout in areas with salmon cages. Obviously, the Department is not considering the issue of human health. Why, when it seems to be the best course of action scientifically to mitigate the impact of these fish farms, are people not being asked to put them onshore? Steps must be taken to reassure the public, which has legitimate concerns about the environmental impact, that we are managing it as best we can. Could Dr. Beamish identify how many applications have been refused? What applications are refused on environmental grounds? Are they basically all being refused on environmental grounds or, as has been raised here, because of the other procedural issue? Are some applications being refused on procedural grounds?

I agree with Deputy Pringle. What we tend to do offshore seems to be very ad hoc, be it aquaculture or renewable energy. Do we not need a more schematic approach in the same way as we have a development plan regarding granting planning permissions and national planning guidelines? Seeing as we have so much territory offshore, we need a better plan than what is there currently so that we can all subscribe to the direction in which we are going and appropriate environmental protections are in place.