Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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964. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason fish from a company’s (detail supplied) hatchery at Lough Altan, County Donegal has been awarded organic status despite the fact that his Department determined that the company had breached licence conditions at the hatchery. [24752/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In the case referred, I determined that a breach of the general aquaculture licence conditions did occur. However, I also determined that the circumstances were such that the licence itself should not be revoked in this instance.

With regard to the organic status of the operation, which is subject to a separate approval process, the relevant Organic Control Body undertook a comprehensive audit of all sites operated by the company in question earlier this year. This found that the specific requirements governing organic production were being complied with.

That said, and as with the performance of all operators, my Department is keeping the matter under close review to ensure that the highest standards are maintained.