Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for an offshore fish farm in Galway Bay; when a decision is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13046/15]

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. A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This 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.

The fullest consideration is being given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process.

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.