Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the targets for growth in production forecast in the national strategy plan for sustainable aquaculture development can be taken seriously in view of the extremely optimistic criteria for such growth set out in the plan, especially when set beside the actual production statistics produced over the past ten years by his Department; and if he will acknowledge that this plan cannot justify the expenditure proposed, which should instead be directed to our tourism and angling industries as they provide real jobs based on proper statistical analysis. [25448/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU currently faces an annual €16 billion seafood trade deficit which the reformed Common Fisheries Policy seeks to address through the development of sustainable sources of seafood within the Union in order to contribute to security of food supplies but also to provide growth and employment opportunities for citizens. One of the measures introduced in the recent CFP is the requirement for each Member State to implement a multi-annual national strategic plan for aquaculture. Ireland’s draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Developmentalong with its accompanying environmental reports is currently undergoing public consultation until 24 July. The targets for production growth set out in the draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development are derived from previously achieved output levels for the key species involved; on that basis it may be said that they are essentially reasonable. The Irish aquaculture sector provided employment for some 1,833 persons and generated output with a first sale value of €115 million in 2014. These are real jobs and real exports, invaluable to coastal communities where there are few if any other employment opportunities. 

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the scale limits for deep sea salmon farms set out in the national strategy plan for sustainable aquaculture development, if he will now acknowledge that Bord Iascaigh Mhara got it seriously wrong when submitting a licensing application for Galway Bay, which was over twice the size of the scale limits now adopted; and if his Department will suspend its assessment of the application from Bord Iascaigh Mhara. [25449/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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One of the measures introduced in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, agreed in 2013, is the requirement for each Member State to implement a multi-annual national strategic plan for aquaculture. Ireland’s draft Plan along with its accompanying environmental reports is currently undergoing public consultation until 24 July. BIM made its application for a salmon farm licence in Galway Bay in 2012 which therefore pre-dates the new Common Fisheries Policy requirements and the subsequent preparation of the draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That application is currently still under consideration.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the scientific and legal definition of offshore applied by him to the scale limits for salmon farms, as set out in the national strategy plan for sustainable aquaculture development. [25450/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been advised by the Marine Institute that offshore aquaculture as referred to in the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development is considered to mean the execution of activities in sites that are subject to ocean conditions, with significant exposure to wind and wave action. This includes fully open ocean sites and sites that, although close to the open ocean, and subject to ocean waves, benefit from some shelter provided by local topographical features (e.g. headlands and islands).

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in view of guiding principle five as set out in the national strategy plan for sustainable aquaculture development regarding salmon farming, he will immediately initiate direct discussions with representatives of the tourism and angling industries to develop a consensus-based approach to sustainable salmon farming, and thereby demonstrate that he is serious regarding reforming this declining and environmentally damaging industry. [25451/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Applications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. The legislation provides for extensive statutory consultation and general public consultation in respect of each application under consideration. Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for wild salmon stocks, and Fáilte Ireland are both statutory consultees. I am satisfied therefore that the regulations governing public and statutory consultations provide comprehensive and appropriate transparency in respect of my Department’s aquaculture licensing system.