Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Many people believe little is happening in the aquaculture and fish farming sector. We are about to change the fish farming landscape in Ireland in a manner with which non-governmental agencies and individuals who have concerns about the salmon farming industry will be comfortable. The scale of the proposed salmon farms is such that they will be offshore - up to 6km to 7km from the coast - and virtually out of sight. As I stated, it is not possible to operate such farms in the open Atlantic.