Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay in issuing an oyster one shellfish licence to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23488/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question currently holds an aquaculture licence which is valid to 30 November 2011. He has applied for another aquaculture licence for an area adjacent to his existing licensed site.

The area for which the existing licence was granted and the area for which the additional licence has been now been sought lie within a designated Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site). As such any applications will require to be considered in the context of ongoing discussions between my Department, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the EU Commission on the issue of aquaculture activities in Natura 2000 sites generally.

My Department, together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, is currently in the process of finalising, with the EU Commission, a plan to deliver compliance of aquaculture activities in Natura 2000 sites with the EU Birds and Habitat Directives. This plan is designed to provide for the continued operation of existing activities while at the same time undertaking a comprehensive data collection programme that will enable all new and renewal applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with these Directives.