Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will supply all the data requested by the EU regarding the EIS in respect of the Galway Bay licence application for commercial salmon farming, his views regarding whether it is appropriate that he is the arbiter in an application from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22013/14]

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.

My Department maintains close ongoing communication with the EU Commission on relevant aspects of aquaculture licensing and all queries from the EU Commission are answered promptly in accordance with standard procedures.

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