Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I represent the concerns of traditional fishermen, islanders in the Aran islands, inshore fishermen and anglers and other concerned groups in regard to the proposed project off the Aran Islands. This project is raising huge concern and there is a serious worry that it could contaminate the wild salmon. Like me, the Minister of State is well aware of the tremendous industry the wild salmon used to be for our coastal communities. That industry is in recovery, but there is concern that if there is any contamination, through sea lice or whatever, that would cause a further depletion of our wild salmon stocks and would be detrimental.

I fully appreciate there is huge emphasis on trying to create jobs, but it should not be jobs at any cost. If this project is to go ahead, it should be done following a full debate between the people involved, the traditional fishermen, the companies involved, like Bord Iascaigh Mhara which is behind the project, and all concerned stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, anglers and scientists. We need an open, full debate so that people can be satisfied that if we are taking this step, we are doing so with the right information.

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