Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
Aquaculture Innovation and Development: Discussion
2:00 am
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I ask that we have a dedicated session in the new year looking at the issue of licensing. I ask that we invite the people here today - BIM, IFA Aquaculture, the Department of the marine, the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board and the Marine Institute - for a dedicated session looking at licensing and how we can resolve this. I want to hear their ideas. I also would like to see a comparison with other countries. It has been said today that you would not face these types of delay elsewhere. Maybe we could indicate to the agencies coming before us that we will be looking for direct comparisons with other EU member states as it pertains to European legislation.
The other issue raised today is the need for legislative change. There are two topics I propose we deal with - the issue of licensing and what legislative change in one Act looks like. I ask that that be agreed by the committee in the new year.