Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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612. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will follow Sweden in petitioning the European Union to list the American lobster as a foreign species, which would prohibit the import of live lobsters from the United States of America and Canada, as a measure to protect the indigenous lobster population from Gaffkaemia. [10075/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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EU Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species provides for the adoption of a list of invasive alien species of European Union concern (“the Union list”). The Regulation also provides for a range of measures to detect, control and manage species on the “Union list”. The first list under this Regulation was adopted last December but has not yet been formally commenced by the EU.

To be included on the “Union list”, an invasive alien species has to meet a number of criteria, such as being alien to the territory of the European Union, capable of establishing a viable population and spreading in the environment under current or foreseeable climate change conditions, and being likely to have a significant adverse impact on biodiversity or related ecosystems, or impact on human health or the economy.

Member States proposing a species for inclusion on the “Union list” are required to carry out a risk assessment on the species concerned to demonstrate the need for such measures and the likelihood of their effectiveness. Further information on the process for EU assessment and listing of invasive alien species may be found here:

I understand that there is a proposal to include the American lobster on a second list, which is due to be considered at the EU’s next Scientific Forum meeting on invasive alien species on 21^stJune. However my Department has not received any proposal regarding this species from relevant experts or interested parties here in Ireland.

The Risk Assessment (RA) for the American lobster is available online here: =

The question of the risk of introduction of disease is a matter in the first instance for the Fish Health Unit of the Marine Institute.

My Department will continue to consult with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the matter.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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613. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to petition at European Union level to have the American lobster recognised as a foreign species, as Sweden has already done in March 2016, which would prohibit the import of live lobsters from the United States of America and Canada (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10087/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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EU Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species provides for the adoption of a list of invasive alien species of European Union concern (“the Union list”). The Regulation also provides for a range of measures to detect, control and manage species on the “Union list”. The first list under this Regulation was adopted last December but has not yet been formally commenced by the EU.

To be included on the “Union list”, an invasive alien species has to meet a number of criteria, such as being alien to the territory of the European Union, capable of establishing a viable population and spreading in the environment under current or foreseeable climate change conditions, and being likely to have a significant adverse impact on biodiversity or related ecosystems, or impact on human health or the economy.

Member States proposing a species for inclusion on the “Union list” are required to carry out a risk assessment on the species concerned to demonstrate the need for such measures and the likelihood of their effectiveness. Further information on the process for EU assessment and listing of invasive alien species may be found here:

I understand that there is a proposal to include the American lobster on a second list, which is due to be considered at the EU’s next Scientific Forum meeting on invasive alien species on 21^stJune. However my Department has not received any proposal regarding this species from relevant experts or interested parties here in Ireland.

The Risk Assessment (RA) for the American lobster is available online here:

=

The question of the risk of introduction of disease is a matter in the first instance for the Fish Health Unit of the Marine Institute.

My Department will continue to consult with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the matter.