Dr. Cecil Beamish:

Deputy Pringle asked about a level playing field in the aquaculture licensing process. The issues we have been talking about today relate to the habitats and birds directives. The European Commission is the guardian of the implementation of those directives and it took Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union. I am not privy to its interactions with other member states. The large competing states are the UK and, to a lesser extent, France on some of the shellfish. Norway is an EEA country and in a different situation. We are not privy to the interactions and communications on enforcement between the Commission and other members states but they are subject to the same rules and should be meeting the same obligations.