Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

Here we are transferring this power to An Bord Pleanála and I do not think it is properly thought out. Again, I must be parochial. I think of the problems coming down the track for Bantry Bay where some fellow will make an application only to withdraw it.

Recently, we had a nice situation on the shores of Whiddy Island where young fellows who admirably returned to the island and a few local fishermen were involved in scallop and other farming in the coastal area trying to make a few bob. They find it almost impossible to get an aquaculture licence. The Department of fisheries, and particularly BIM, is supporting them financially stating this is a good idea and it will give them 30% or 40% grants to help the venture get off the ground. The other side of the coin, as I mentioned earlier and as I am sure the Minister of State will not be aware as it relates to another Department, is the 70 month delay in applying for aquaculture licences, a crazy delay of nearly seven years. An Bord Pleanála is putting its hand into the pie as well. God help the guy who wants to start up in that line of business. It involves the local authorities, the Department dealing with the marine — it keeps changing Department — which is now the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Department of Transport. It is now proposed to include a role for An Bord Pleanála.

It is like baking a Christmas cake. I have a funny feeling there are a lot of ingredients here — the cherries, the raisins and all the other bits and pieces. The Acting Chairman would probably be more familiar with baking Christmas cakes than I, but I am worried we will get the mix wrong and that the fruit will sink.