Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

My understanding is that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has determined to grant an aquaculture licence to Woodstown Bay Shellfish Limited and that the licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various statutory consultees. I am informed that the legislation also provides for a period of public consultation, which for this application was apparently held in 2019 and was rerun in 2021. In total, 609 public submissions were received. I am told the decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations. A public advertisement outlining the decision was printed in The Southern Star newspaper on Saturday, 31 May 2025. The public notice said that an appeal against the aquaculture licence decision may be made in writing within one month of the date of its publication to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in Portlaoise, County Laois.

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