Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Vice Chairman for allowing me to attend the meeting.

I congratulate Dr. Heffernan and his colleagues on the discovery at the Goban Spur. The images from the depths are dramatic. The Marine Institute's vessels are no strangers to my community in Castletownbere and it is a huge source of pride to see the research vessels Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager tied up in the port. The significant increase in investment in the institute is money well spent, although I am sure Dr. Heffernan will say additional funding is always needed.

The economic impact of the marine environment is core to the institute's work, which includes its assessment of the Natura 2000 sites along the coast. I understand up to 80% of our exploitable sites are Natura 2000 sites. Will Dr. Heffernan indicate whether there is or could possibly be a resource issue in this regard within the Marine Institute? From the institute's own assessment, as indicated at a recent conference, the most it is getting through is four or five sites per annum. This should be seen in a context where there are in the region of 50 or 60 bays to get through. This is a significant inhibiting factor in developing any type of reasonable aquaculture industry. Certainly, it would be expected from all sides, whether one is for or against aquaculture, that the most up-to-date information on the economic impact of this and other industries which impact on the Natura 2000 sites would be published. Getting though only four or five per year is perhaps suggestive of an overly cautious approach. It certainly seems far too slow. I am not blaming the institute for this, but I do wonder whether it is a resource issue.