Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in respect of Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 21 November 2006, he will confirm that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are responsible to him in respect of moneys paid through his Department for the purpose of assisting individual CLAMS groups in their development proposals and that therefore in the case of best results in the case of Killary clams and in view of the diverse opinions being put forward, that the appointment of an independent mediator would be beneficial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40563/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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BIM is the Irish state agency established under the Sea Fisheries Act 1952 with responsibility for developing the Irish Sea fishing and Aquaculture industries. Under the 1952 Act, the Board of BIM is appointed by the Minister of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and is required to prepare financial statements and to ensure regularity of transactions. BIM receives a budget from the Department each year in accordance with agreed strategies and objectives and is required to produce an Annual Report, which is audited by the C&AG and laid before the Oireachtas.

BIM assists the various CLAMS groups around the country from time to time with very modest sums of money, although there is no fixed budget allocation in their Vote devoted exclusively for this purpose. It should be noted that all of the actions of the CLAMS groups that receive state monies are co-funded by the members themselves, either by contributions in kind or by actual cash contributions. In this context, some of the groups are exploring ways of becoming financially self sufficient through collectively growing aquaculture products, on a cooperative basis, and I am encouraging this approach as it engenders financial sustainability and a spirit of acting in the common good.

With regard to the Killary CLAMS group, BIM is making a financial contribution towards the employment of an expert independent chairman and I would urge all of the growers there to engage with the chairman and participate actively in the group so as to have their point of view made known.

Membership of the group is open at all times to anybody holding an aquaculture licence. The CLAMS process is the state's mechanism for dealing with issues at a local level.