Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 27 May 2009, the location at which the Gigas oyster has settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23931/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action he is taking to remove the Gigas oyster from the Lough Swilly Natura 2000 site in order to protect the native habitat. [23932/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.

My response to Question No. 202 of 27 May 2009 referred to the possible future potential risk of proliferation of the pacific oyster in Ireland and the study being undertaken at present by the Marine Institute, with others, on reproduction, settlement and environmental interactions of pacific oysters in Ireland. The results of this study will be used to inform further actions that may be required consistent with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture. As previously indicated, my Department is advised that, to date, there is little evidence that any decline in native oyster numbers has been linked with the presence of the pacific oyster.