Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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138. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason for the delay in issuing seaweed harvesting licences; the cause of the issue between legal interface and the current applications; when these applications are likely to be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22235/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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During the course of assessing a number of licence applications to harvest seaweed, it became clear that certain rights to harvest seaweed exist.  My Department is in a process of ascertaining, with the assistance of the Attorney General, the legal interface and relationship between these traditional harvesting rights and the current applications. Accordingly, these applications, mostly by companies, are effectively on hold. 

When my Department is in a position to bring clarity to the regulatory regime applying to the harvesting of wild seaweed, having regard to the consideration of these legal issues, the applications on hand can come before me for determination.