John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1059: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an agreement has been reached between his Department and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to assessing aquaculture projects in special protection areas and sites of community importance under European nature legislation following the European Court of Justice ruling in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1027/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In its ruling of December 2007, the European Court of Justice found that the State was not adequately meeting the requirements of the Habitats and Birds directives in its licensing and regulation of aquaculture activities in Natura 2000 sites. This presented difficulties for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in terms of renewing or granting aquaculture licences in these sites or in permitting certain fishing activities.

My Department is working intensively with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Marine Institute, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the European Commission to agree a work programme, including necessary data collection and monitoring, in order to bring these activities into full compliance with the Directives. All parties are pursuing early agreement so that clarity can be provided to operators in these industries about how their activities will be regulated in the future.