Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My job is to get on with what I am legally obliged to do which is to give due consideration in a robust but fair way to an application for a significant piece of infrastructure in water and I will do that. I will accept all of the advice I am supposed to get in that process and then make an independent and informed decision using my judgment as best I can. That is my responsibility. If people do not agree with that procedure or decision, they will have an opportunity to appeal it to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, ALAB, which is just as independent as An Bord Pleanála. Deputy Ó Cuív seems to be suggesting that we should hand this over to An Bord Pleanála. ALAB is the equivalent of An Bord Pleanála for licensing of aquaculture projects so I am not sure what the Deputy is getting at.

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