Mr. Michael Mulloy:

Regarding the Deputy's question about the nature of the appeals, the majority of them tend to relate to the granting of licences by third parties who wish to have that decision overturned. We also have appeals from applicants who want to vary the condition and the like that were granted. Because of the way the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine dealt with the licence applications post appropriate assessments, the shellfish licences were granted. Approximately 600 shellfish licences were granted and now it is getting around to determining the finfish sector. There are approximately 32 applications in there, eight of which are in public consultation. We can anticipate that they will lead to appeals that ALAB will have to deal with, so the new chair will have his hands full from the word "go".