Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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373. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he availed of actuarial expertise in determining that the State could provide insurance to aquaculture more cost-effectively than private insurers, or if it is envisaged that such insurance would be provided below cost, thereby constituting a state aid. [15572/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 27 March 2015, I announced plans for a new €241 million development programme for the seafood sector for the period up to 2020, co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. I am inviting submissions on that draft Programme by 1 May 2015. The draft Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 proposes investment of €30 million in a number of measures specifically intended to support the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector. One of these measures relates to aquaculture stock insurance and would be implemented under article 57 of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (508/2014). In framing that Regulation, the EU co-legislators stated in recital 54 that “recognising the risk of investments in aquaculture activities, it should be possible for the EMFF to promote business security by contributing to aquaculture stock insurance, thereby safeguarding the income of producers in case of abnormal production losses due, in particular, to natural disasters, adverse climatic events, sudden water quality changes, diseases or pest infestations and the destruction of production facilities.”. In the draft Programme, it is proposed that this measure would supplement and complement commercial insurance arrangements, not replace them. I am interested to hear the views of stakeholders on this particular measure, and I will be considering carefully any submissions received.

In relation to State Aid, article 8(2) of the EMFF Regulation provides that payments made by Member States pursuant to, and in conformity with, the Regulation shall comply with State Aid rules.