Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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239. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 9 May 2017, if his Department or the operator pay the organic control body for certifying the aquaculture operation in question. [25189/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department, as the Competent Authority, delegates the task of certifying and operating the inspection system to which organic operators producing, preparing, storing or importing produce from third countries are subject. This is in accordance with the governing EU regulations. Since 2005, the associated services and obligations of the Organic Control Bodies were formalised by service agreements between the Department and the Organic Control Bodies concerned.

Every organic operator pays a certification fee to its respective Organic Control Body. In addition, under the aforementioned service agreements, a subvention is  paid by the Department to the Organic Control Bodies in respect of the annual inspection which is undertaken of every organic operator.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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240. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to parliamentary question number 543 of 9 May 2017, if the attention of organic control body that certified a hatchery (details supplied) as organic was drawn to the overstocking at the site; and if so, the reason organic status was awarded. [25190/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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This issue has been brought to the attention of the Organic Control Body concerned. The matter is currently under examination to determine whether the requirements of the organic regulations were met. It would be inappropriate for me to comment any further at this stage in the process.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 540 and 541 of 9 May 2017, if the review group will examine the conflict of interest at the centre of his Department's licensing system in view of the fact that his department's sea fisheries policy and management division is responsible for the governance of ALAB thus compromising the real and perceived independence of that body. [25191/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Sea Food Policy and Management Division has a range of responsibilities involving sea fisheries policy and management, corporate governance of marine State agencies and implementation of Departmental responsibilities in harnessing our ocean wealth.   That Division has responsibility for corporate governance of Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board involving oversight of that body in accordance with the  Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016. 

Responsibility for aquaculture policy and  the independent review group for aquaculture licensing is with the Marine Programmes Division.

The terms of reference of the independent review group for aquaculture licensing were published in December 2016 and I anticipate receipt of the group's report in the coming weeks.  As stated on 9 May 2017, I am satisfied that the Group's terms of reference provide the Group with appropriate scope to address issues arising with the licensing system.