Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the discussions that have taken place or that are intended to take place to advance with local fishermen the legislation planned for the Foyle, which will update that which was originally enacted in the 1950s. [34727/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Department is engaged in detailed discussions with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in relation to a Bill which will confer additional powers on the Loughs Agency of the Foyle and Carlingford Irish Lights Commission as envisaged in the British Irish Agreement Act 1999. In the course of finalising the draft Bill, DARD has consulted with all stakeholders on the proposed implementation plan for the licensing of aquaculture activities in the Foyle.

In addition, there will be a further statutory consultation process in Northern Ireland when the draft Northern Ireland Order is published and this will afford all stakeholders an opportunity to make submissions on the draft legislation. In Ireland, the legislation will be published in the normal manner and stakeholders can make representations to the Minister or their elected representative in the usual way.