Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the basis for his Department's claim that no licensed aquaculture operations exist in Lough Foyle, in view of the fact that a division of his Department was instrumental in issuing sea-fishing boat licences to vessels whose owners specified in the application process that their operations were taking place exclusively within Lough Foyle. [9452/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to my response to Question No. 362 on 27 February 2007. My response to that question indicated that Section 2 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 specifies that "This Act shall not apply to or in relation to the Moville Area, within the meaning of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952" and that the Moville Area referred to is in respect of Lough Foyle. Accordingly, no aquaculture licences under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, have been issued by the Department in respect of Lough Foyle.

With regard to the issue of fishing boat licences, the function of the Licensing Authority for sea-fishing boats was transferred under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 to the Registrar General of Fishing Boats. The Act provides that the Licensing Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions under the Act, subject to the law for the time being in force and policy directives in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing.

You may wish to take up this matter directly with the Registrar General of Fishing Boats, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2.