Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 6 October 2011, the number of meetings that have been held about the transfer of control over aquaculture in the Foyle to the Loughs Agency; the number of persons involved in his Department programme to transfer control; the length of time these persons have been involved; the other agencies and other Departments involved; the role of each of the other agencies and Departments in the process of transferring management control to the Loughs Agency; if a draft agreement has been written to grant the Loughs Agency control over aquaculture in the Foyle; if not, the timescale for such an agreement and the current timetable for the transfer of power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29518/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has participated with other stakeholders in at least eight meetings to discuss the issues involved in the proposal to devolve aquaculture licensing to the Loughs Agency.

A range of Departmental and Agency staff are involved in addressing the scientific, technical and policy elements. It would not be possible to provide a breakdown of the portion of each official's time that is being given to this matter.

The key Departments and Agencies involved, in addition to my own, are the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, and in view of the very important jurisdictional issues, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

My Department continues to make every effort to expedite the conclusion of a draft agreement, but it would not be appropriate to put a definitive deadline on these considerations at this time.