Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with Deputy Fitzmaurice's point first. We discussed it at committee the last day and it is something the appeals board looks to accommodate, but there can be circumstances when the appeals officer who took the initial hearing takes ill or is out for a period. The choice is to await the return of the appeals officer or to restart the appeal. That is something that is considered. It is possible. It does not have to be dealt with in legislation but can be accommodated in whatever way is felt most appropriate in the circumstances.

In answer to Deputy Mac Lochlainn, work is under way to make sure additional resources are brought into Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board. I accept it has to function effectively and be staffed appropriately to do that. It needs additional staffing and that is being facilitated and pursued.

I thank Deputy Cahill for his comments and I thank him and all committee members for facilitating the Bill's passage and for the discussion at the committee the last day. It will make our appeals system an improved structure. An applicant who is not happy with a decision is provided with a recourse involving a committee and it does not rest solely with the director of the appeals office. It is a better structure. Not that anybody had any particular issue, but it is much better to have a body with a number of people on it, and that approach is being taken here. It is a programme for Government commitment to make sure our appeals system is as robust as possible. I recognise the cross-party support in the Dáil and the committee. I look forward to bringing it to the Seanad as well.

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