Mr. Jean-Paul Deveau:

I will address the question regarding advice on folio rights first. The advice we received was that this was a complex issue and that the údarás wanted to make it clear that it was up to us, if we were interested in concluding the transaction, to accept the responsibility of figuring out how to operate in that environment. We have had preliminary discussions with the various Departments to try to understand the situation. The advice we got was to continue with the application Arramara had put together in order to clarify and get the rights to the seaweed and to be able to develop that area.

Deputy Kyne raised the question of the use it or lose it clause. This particular clause exists in the licences we have in Canada. Effectively, this clause prohibits an organisation from getting a licence and not using it for the benefit of Ireland.

If one is considering a licensing a regime, sustainability, habitat protection and maximum economic benefit are important factors. There needs to be a mechanism to address a situation in which an entity receives a licence but does not use it, as harvesters would not be able to harvest and others who might use seaweed for their economic benefit could not access it.

A question was asked about the recommended length of harvesting licences. Based on our experience, I might be so bold as to suggest a relatively short initial licence of three years. One year is too short because of the way in which the plant grows. A period of three years allows for people to show that they are working on ensuring sustainability, habitat protection and a level of capital investment that will benefit Ireland economically. Once people have shown they can do this, longer licences might make sense.

Another of the Deputy's questions was on the compatibility of companies like Arramara Teo, the harvesters and other players in the industry. Given the quantity of available resources, all of the entities that want to and are currently making substantial investments can co-exist, have access to those resources and work with the seaweed harvesters to ensure that all of the harvesters can continue doing so in a way that will work for everyone. In this way, we could develop a substantial and world-leading industry. This assurance is necessary if the industry or anyone with a licence is to make the substantial investments required.

I do not know whether I have hit all of the Deputy's questions.