Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I do but only briefly. Seo an céad lá dom a bheith ag caint tar éis bháis an Seanadóir Callanan agus ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a chur in iúl dá bhean chéile Sheila agus dá pháistí ar fad.

I take this opportunity because I do not see the motion before the House as contentious in any way, shape or form. Mapping of the seabed is obviously very important and will benefit many areas. One matter on which I wish to focus is the dispute between the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and its relationship with the mapping of special areas of conservation, SACs, where shellfish farms are operating. The situation is causing severe distress to over 300 applicants whose applications are ready to be renewed. Some 80% of these farms have made investments and will not now achieve their 40% return from the European Union because by not mapping SACs the Government is in breach of the directive in place. When money is available from the European Union under the programme for fisheries 2007-13 but cannot be accessed by the Department because of a lack of mapping, there are serious questions to be raised in this regard. It is a scandal that money committed by the individuals concerned for these indigenous enterprises cannot be recouped because the Department has failed to carry out such mapping. This must be rectified immediately.

I am aware that in 2008 the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, announced €4 million in grant aid for aquaculture and €1.4 million to facilitate the mapping of SACs. At face value, this seemed good but I am informed the downside was that the €4 million needed to complete the project related to the previous grant applications from 2005 to 2006. More important, the €1.4 million allocated for the mapping of SACs was allocated for one year only, with the result that only 12 bays have been mapped in the south of Ireland and the money has been spent with nothing further forthcoming.

The benefits of mapping have been outlined by different Senators today but there is an immediate problem, one that the Department should have known about since 2000 when Ireland implemented the Natura 2000 habitats directive that introduced SACs. It is having a severe impact on indigenous enterprise. To put the matter in context, the aquaculture industry is worth €120 million per annum. When we talk about the benefits of investing, we can see the return in this instance. However, I understand there is a stand-off between the two Departments with consequential intransigence. I am informed that it is a simple matter but because of the stand-off between the two Departments nothing is happening. I am also informed that a mediation process has been established between the two Departments but this issue needs to be resolved immediately. People are losing their jobs day in, day out. Because the Government is responsible for the hold up, the matter must be sorted out. I commend the Minister on the mapping project but this matter must be dealt with as a priority. I would welcome the Minister's return to the Seanad, or to me, on this matter. I understand it does not fall directly within his remit or that of Department but it is connected to the overall debate we are having in the House today and, therefore, worth mentioning.