Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On page 47 of the programme for Government, under the heading of tourism, the Government promised to work towards achieving ambitious tourism policy goals by 2025. In Kinsale, which is one of Ireland's main tourism destinations, there is a planning application for a 65-acre mussel farm, requiring bottom dredging, off Kinsale Harbour. The people of Kinsale and I have serious environmental and tourism-related concerns. Kinsale is the starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way. The Minister will say he cannot comment on planning issues but the Government can wake up and draw up new planning guidelines immediately to prevent the development of a 65-acre mussel farm off Kinsale Harbour or hundreds of acres of kelp harvesting off Bantry. This would protect sensitive areas that depend so much on tourism.

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