Written answers

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be made available to the owner of a aquaculture site (details supplied) in County Donegal should the renewal of their licence be refused as per recommendations under the Marine Institute Appropriate Assessment report of May 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31821/14]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that he is now giving the licensee of a site (details supplied) permission under section 19(4) 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act to proceed to farm bottom mussels over what is deemed a native oyster dominated habitat in the MI report of May 2013; if will provide written permission to the owner of the site to proceed on this basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31956/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 192 together.

There is no reference to compensation in the Appropriate Assessment of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Lough Swilly (SAC 002287).

As the Deputy has been previously advised, my Department is currently examining the outcomes of the Appropriate Assessment for Lough Swilly with a view to formulating policy recommendations in respect of individual licences held by operators in the Lough. Such policy recommendations will take account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of each licence application. This process will also look at other matters specific to this site, including its use to date by the operator. My Department will be in contact with the operator in connection with these issues shortly.

My Department continues to make every effort to expedite the determination of the Lough Swilly aquaculture licence applications having regard to the need to comply with all relevant national and EU legislation.

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