Dr. Cecil Beamish:

The way we approached this in committee was conscious that there are things that can be talked about and things that cannot be talked about. At the outset we set out the global and European context in which aquaculture is developing and try to present where Ireland stands in that global and European market context as regards the apparent potential that seems to exist for aquaculture generally and in Ireland. It is clear that other countries have seen ways of developing aquaculture while remaining very committed to the marine environment, their commercial fishing industries and their fishermen. Some countries have developed significant industries and also retained very significant fishing industries. However, we cannot enter into any discussion or debate on specific applications that are under consideration or indicate any predisposition or otherwise towards any big, small or other applicants of any kind. So we are somewhat hamstrung in that regard.

The Deputy mentioned specific numbers and clearly it is an area of interest to his constituency.