Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 3 April 2014, if he will make available the results of the tests on the failed nets and bridles requested by his engineering division in regard to the 2010 escapes in Inver Bay and Clew Bay respectively as his recent response that his Department was satisfied from correspondence received that these matters were receiving necessary and appropriate attention by the operator does not answer this reasonable request for the results of these tests or an admission that these tests were in fact never provided. [18426/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In relation to Clew Bay I can confirm that on 21 April 2011 the operator advised my Department that it had instigated rigorous additional testing. As the operator’s report contains commercially sensitive information concerning third parties it may not be appropriate to release it. My Department has sought legal advice on this aspect.

In relation to Inver Bay, the company’s report also contains sensitive commercial information concerning a third party which may make it inappropriate for release. My Department is also seeking advice on this matter.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if in the public interest will instruct his officials to make available the marine engineering division and the Marine Institute reports into the recent escape of 220,000 salmon in Bantry Bay when he states these reports form a very important part of the regulatory function but which his Department officials have refused to release to requestors under access to information on the environment regulations even though this legislation provides that requests for environmental information relating to emissions including discharges and other releases into the environment shall not be refused even in circumstances where the relevant environmental information might otherwise be protected. [18427/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The incident referred to by the Deputy is the subject of ongoing detailed examination by my Department.

My Department received a request from a member of the public for the release of certain reports associated with this examination. Following consideration of the request my Department determined that the release of the documents would not be in the public interest under the terms of the Regulation 9(2)(d) of Statutory Instrument 133/2007.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has in place an adequate inspection programme to ensure that cheap imports of substandard equipment for Irish salmon farms and other aquaculture operations are not being substituted with or without the licensee’s knowledge for certified Irish products leading to component failures on these farms and the consequent escapes of large numbers of fish. [18428/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department’s Engineering Division inspects licensed aquaculture sites on a regular basis. These inspections include the conditions of cages on site.

While I am satisfied that the current inspection regime is satisfactory, my Department is alert to ongoing technological changes which enhance the security of all structures on licensed sites and in this regard my Department is currently preparing a draft protocol for the structural design of marine finfish farms.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make open to public consultation the draft protocol for the structural design of marine finfish farms, including its terms of reference, which he states his Department is currently preparing; and if this protocol, when agreed, will be implemented by regulations, as is the case in neighbouring jurisdictions. [18429/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The draft protocol referred to by the Deputy is under ongoing consideration within my Department and a decision on the manner of its implementation has not been made as yet.