Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that. I also welcome the work of the former Minister of State, Deputy English, in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in relation to seaweed. My difficulty is that we have a Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, report referring to and outlining a report that has not even been published and that we have not read. That is one difficulty. The second difficulty is that we are operating in a vacuum. Friends of the Irish Environment has drawn to our attention allegations in relation to unsustainable harvesting of seaweed down in the Kenmare special area of conservation. Has the Minister had any interaction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to that and around seaweed being cut unsustainably by a company? I mention this because we have known for a long time that there is a vacuum in policy and legislation, especially in the areas of seaweed and wool that have huge significance and possibilities for sustainable development and going forward with transformative action on the west coast of Ireland from Donegal down to Kerry. Yet, we are going from report to report. We have difficulty finding them and there are delays in publishing them. There is a vacuum. It is very difficult and frustrating when we see the possibilities and we are being told of the possibilities. I mentioned one of them because the Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, is beside the Minister. These are wonderful and positive opportunities.

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