Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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167. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that constant monitoring is a condition of salmon farm licences, the reason he stated that it would take time to gather information in relation to the escapees at Bantry Bay on 1 February. [14397/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s Engineering Division, in conjunction with the Marine Institute, conducted a survey at the site referred to by the Deputy at the first available opportunity and have provided preliminary scientific and technical reports to my Department. The very severe weather conditions experienced at the time of the incident referred to by the Deputy are well documented. At all times site surveys must be conducted in a manner which takes due account of the health and safety of the personnel involved.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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168. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Bord Iascaigh Mhara, as the proposed licence holder, will underwrite any damage or claims for escapees from fish farms. [14398/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act.

The assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.

There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my Ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed.

As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.