Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make a payment under Article 31 of the EFF to fishermen involved in mussel farming in the Killary Harbour in view of the fact that the harbour has been closed for harvesting mussels for two years and of the recent storm damage caused to equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8725/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A comprehensive framework exists to deal with seafood safety in Ireland. The Marine Institute is responsible for monitoring shellfish for the presence of naturally occurring phytoplankton toxins. Toxicity can occur at any time during the year and the periods of closure can vary considerably from year-to-year. The monitoring programme is designed to detect toxicity in shellfish growing areas before harvesting, thereby providing the necessary information to restrict the placement of toxic shellfish on the market. Regulatory controls, which are enforced by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, exist to support these restrictions. The State controls are there to protect public health and indeed the international reputation of Irish seafood thereby ensuring the future of this important sector.

Killary Harbour has been on a closed biotoxin status for azaspiracid toxins since last June and I understand was closed for some months prior to April 2013 also. Azaspiracid shellfish poisoning can cause diarrhoea, nausea, headaches and chills. I know that some other areas in the South West and North West have been similarly affected and I understand that Killary Harbour has a history of similar toxicity events in the past. These naturally occurring events are an inevitable occasional feature of operating aquaculture farms in Irish coastal waters and are a well known business risk in the industry. Nevertheless, I am still conscious of the business difficulties that these closures can cause for the companies concerned.

The European Fisheries Fund Regulation (1198/2006) is an EU instrument that sets out details of the type of investments that Member States may select for inclusion in national operational programmes for the seafood sector. Investments included in operational programmes are co-funded by the EFF and national administrations and are considered to comply with State Aid rules once the operational programme is adopted by the Commission. There are many potential investments in the EFF Regulation and Member States are not expected to include all in their operational programmes. Each member state must make investment choices, having regard to the finite allocation from the EFF to each Member State. Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme was finalised in 2008 and Ireland selected certain investments for inclusion, in consultation with stakeholders, and having regard to Ireland’s EFF allocation of €42 million over 7 years. A scheme of compensation for biotoxin closures under article 31 was not included because of limited EFF funds and competing priorities.

Exchequer funds for development of the seafood sector are constrained in the present economic environment and are prioritised towards implementation of the EU co-funded Operational Programme. I regret there are no funds available to me to assist the businesses in Killary Harbour with their present difficulties.