Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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511. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department tested for microplastics in farmed shellfish and finfish here prior to awarding an organic label to the industry. [43802/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department remains the Competent Authority under EU regulations but has delegated the certification function to independent control bodies, in accordance with the relevant EU regulations and in common with the practice in many other countries across the EU.  The control bodies in question act under formal service agreements with my Department and are themselves subject to audit by my Department, by INAB (the Irish National Accreditation Board) and by the various EU audit authorities. 

The organic status of food products including shellfish and finfish here in Ireland is certified by rigorous on-going assessment undertaken on behalf of my Department by the Organic Control Bodies referred to above.  While tests for micro plastics are not specifically undertaken, my Department is advised by the Marine Institute that while it is clear from several studies that micro-plastics are present in the environment and can be filtered by bivalve shellfish, there is little evidence on the impact to human health of such micro-plastic pollution.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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512. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will withdraw the organic label from shellfish in the interest of public health until the levels of microplastics in farmed shellfish here can be assessed. [43803/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is advised by the Marine Institute that while it is clear from several studies that micro-plastics are present in the environment and can be filtered by bivalve shellfish, there is little evidence of the impact on human health of such micro-plastic pollution.

Applications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation.

The licensing process includes a period of statutory and general public consultation in respect of applications and licensing decisions are made following the fullest consideration of all aspects of each application including environmental, technical and public interest aspects. 

My Department remains the Competent Authority under EU regulations but has delegated the certification function to Organic Control Bodies, in accordance with the relevant EU regulations and in common with the practice in many other countries across the EU. The organic status of operators in the food sector including shellfish and finfish here in Ireland is certified by rigorous on-going assessment undertaken on behalf of my Department by these Organic Control Bodies.  The control bodies in question act under formal service agreements with my Department and are themselves subject to audit by my Department, by INAB (the Irish National Accreditation Board) and by the various EU audit authorities. 

Based on the fact that there is little evidence on the impact on human health of such micro-plastic pollution I have no plans at present to withdraw the organic label from shellfish. 

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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513. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is taking more than 12 months to investigate breaches of licence conditions at specific salmon farms operated by a company (details supplied). [43804/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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514. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific dates of the engineering reports that started the investigations by his Department into breaches of licence conditions at sites operated by a company (details supplied). [43805/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together.

My Department is currently conducting a formal examination of possible breaches of licence conditions at a number of aquaculture sites operated by the company referred to by the Deputy.  The sites in question and the dates of the applicable engineering inspections are as follows:

- Roancarrig, Co Cork. Engineering Inspections 23^rdJuly 2013, 10^thJune 2014, 8th June 2015.  

- Deenish, Co Kerry.Engineering Inspection 2^ndJuly 2015.

- Inishfarnard, Co Cork.Engineering Inspection 28^thJuly 2016. 

- Lough Swilly, Co Donegal. Engineering Inspection 7^thJuly 2017. 

- Inver Bay, Co. Donegal.Engineering Inspection 14^thNovember 2017.

Examinations of possible breaches of licence conditions are carried out by my Department as quickly as possible having regard to the technical, scientific and legislative complexities involved in each case.