Mr. Richie Flynn:

Yes, it was. It divested itself of its interests in salmon farming in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I was not around then but it seems to me that it was not for commercial reasons it was more for political reasons. That is a long time ago. Salmara left behind some sites that are still in use, which could be looked at again. The re-establishment of major salmon rivers around the country is not my area of expertise but it is an issue that should be examined. Programmes were recently initiated on the River Lee and other water systems with hydro-electric work. At one time they were the jewel in the crown of Europe’s wild salmon industry. More work needs to be done to examine what happened and what could be done.

On the Natura 2000 issue and ongoing monitoring, part of the delay was due to setting the baseline. That was a huge amount of work. Members should be aware of the paperwork generated in the appropriate assessments for the bays at Cromane and Roaring Water. Our understanding is that the Marine Institute has completed all of the conservation objectives for practically all the bays at this stage. It is a case of getting the appropriate assessments done, which is a big job of work. That means having the ornithologists and archaeologists in place. I would love if they worked for the National Parks and Wildlife Service but whether it is due to recruitment bans within the service or whatever else, they cannot seem to get them online quick enough. I do not understand why they are not continuing to roll. The Minister promised 150 licences this year. Given that it is mid-July, I do not see how that it is possible or how that can happen and where they will be, even using the Department’s very conservative timetable that is outlined in the strategic plan.

Shellfish is a real bugbear of mine. I spent all day yesterday with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority discussing improving water quality for shellfish producers in 80 different bays from Malin Head around to Carlingford Lough, according to the classification to which Ms Dubsky referred. We were dealing with local authorities on discharges but now we must deal with Irish Water. Shellfish should be the best in the world in an area that could attract tourism such as the Galway Bay and north Clare area. There is €20 million coming into that area in tourism revenue every year from two festivals that depend on oysters and yet all the times I have met and talked to the local authorities in the area, they do not seem to get the connection between having clean water, good shellfish and the tourism product they are using. I do not understand the disconnect. The county councils have a big responsibility in terms of their investment, planning and where they put holiday homes, including situations where they did not properly deal with the planning of towns and villages near shellfish beds around the country. There are some prime examples but I am pleased to say College Bay is back up again thanks to our fine work. I will leave it at that.