Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department will take account of any established legal right as part of the applications process. As required, we have taken advice from the Attorney General's office. Folios on all parcels of land within one mile of the part of the foreshore that is the subject of a licence application must be identified. A folio must be examined to ascertain whether it contains an entry showing a right to take seaweed from that part of the foreshore. The process is ongoing and the Department is working with the Property Registration Authority. The process is time consuming and expected to take several months more to complete, but I assure the Senator that people's rights will not be interfered with by my Department if the applications in hand are approved.