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

I tabled this question following a visit to Scotland in recent weeks by members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including Deputy Ó Cuív and me.

We met representatives of the industry and people involved in the scientific and political aspects of it. They expressed amazement of the proposed size of the farm off the coast of Galway and the weather and environmental factors. They asked about the consequence of a mass escape from the farm and the risks of sea lice. Compared with Ireland, Scotland has a huge farmed salmon industry over a total area of 400 hectares. I do not have the exact figures for the Galway proposal but it will be of a huge scale. Many of us are concerned about what could happen and two State agencies are giving different vibes on the matter.

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