Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent. I take this opportunity to talk about the special protection area, SPA, and special area of conservation, SAC, designation threat to Wexford Harbour. The mussel industry in Wexford Harbour has spanned three centuries and today exports up to 20 tonnes of live mussels to the Continent, providing much needed revenue for Wexford and the south-east region. Investment in the fleet since 2001 has been approximately €30 million and total employment, between boats and onshore activity, involves more than 150 people.

The greatest threat today is the introduction of the SAC designation to the largest bottom-culture mussel industry in Ireland and the British Isles. If an SAC is placed on the lucrative mussel seed grounds just outside Wexford Harbour, this, together with the Wicklow bed SAC, will be a major threat to the mussel seed supply. The introduction of a special area of conservation prevents any vessel entering and gathering the much valued local mussel seed which is the lifeblood for the continued prosperity of the industry. Without access to this seed, the industry will die and the investment of €300 million will be lost to Wexford and the State. This threatened designation will produce a loss of up to €20 million in revenue for Wexford town, which will in turn have a considerable impact on restaurants, pubs, hardware merchants, engineering suppliers, etc and will be a threat to the local economy. It will result in the curtailment of urban and rural renewal.

I take this opportunity to wish well the senior members of the Department of the Marine, the Secretary General, Mr. Cecil Beamish, and Ms Josephine Kelly, who will be working on behalf of all the areas in Ireland affected by the threats of SAC and SPA designation. I dare to be unconventional and perhaps break protocol by saying that I hope and am sure they will wear the green jersey for us in Brussels.