Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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419. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the methods for slaughtering and transporting farmed fish by a company (details supplied) from salmon farms in the south west are in accordance with organic requirements. [40378/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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All organic operators, including the company named, are inspected regularly to ensure compliance with all conditions applying to the production of organic food. This includes organic salmon.  No issues have been identified in relation to slaughtering and transportation of farmed fish by the company named, but my Department, in co-operation with the Organic Control Bodies, will continue to ensure that the highest standards are being maintained throughout the sector.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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420. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the inspections which are carried out by his Department into the slaughtering and processing of farmed salmon by all aquaculture operators described by his Department as organic. [40379/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The certification, control and inspection of all organic producers in Ireland, including those engaged in the production of organic farmed salmon, has been delegated in accordance with EU regulations to a number of approved Organic Control Bodies. These bodies carry out their functions under specific contract to my Department.  The inspection process for organic producers is extremely detailed and includes adherence to a range of core organic principles, as well as stocking levels, feeding practice, caging standards, traceability and fish-welfare & husbandry amongst other things. Organic aquaculture sites are also subject to the standard inspection regime applying to conventional producers by the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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421. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections of salmon farms that were conducted by his Department's marine engineers in 2016 and to date in 2017. [40380/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Department's Marine Engineering Division conducted 41 inspections on Salmon farms in 2016, and to date in 2017, 16 inspections were conducted.