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

It is a fair concern to outline that there have been some challenges with aquaculture licensing. Before I came into office, no aquaculture licence had been granted for five years. The European Commission took Ireland to court because its licensing system was not fit for purpose.

As a result, we have put a licensing system in place that would be required as gold standard, which involves having to assess all the bays around the country that are categorised as special areas of conservation, which is practically every bay with the exception of one or two. That takes time. The decision-making process does not just involve me and my Department. It involves the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Marine Institute in terms of scientific advice and - obviously - it involves a process that allows stakeholders and objectors to be able to make know their views. It involves a public consultation process as well, and all of that takes time.

It is worth noting that in 2014 I made positive determinations in respect of two renewal applications for fin fish farming for trout farms. By comparison, since taking office I have made 278 determinations in respect of shellfish aquaculture. When we get a system working, which we now have for shellfish, I will make decisions as soon as I have a scientific, sound basis to do so. Fin fish farming has proved to be more complex than that, particularly around salmon and the location of salmon farms, salmon cages and so on. For the record, because people seem to think I am a Minister who just wants to drive through salmon farm applications all over the place, I have not granted one salmon farm licence application since coming into office and I will not until I get recommendations on my desk, from the Marine Institute primarily backed up by my own Department officials, to the effect that it is appropriate to grant the licence. I would like to see the salmon industry grow in Ireland but I will only do it in a way that guarantees the sustainability and environmental protection of the bays and marine environment for which the applications are being proposed.

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