Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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463. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that all applications under the current aquaculture licensing system undergoing statutory consultation are subject to fair and due process throughout the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10626/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisors as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.

Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following full consideration of all views submitted as part of both the statutory and public consultation process. The licence application process is designed to strike a balance between the rights and obligations of all parties including the applicant(s), statutory consultees, relevant NGOs and the general public. I am satisfied that the current licensing system meets all of these requirements.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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464. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek clarification from the relevant Department as to whether the costs of judicial review by a State agency, that is, a statutory consultee in the aquaculture licensing process, will be funded by public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10627/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The State Agency which the Deputy appears to be referring to is not an Agency that comes under the aegis of my Department. Accordingly, it would be more appropriate if the Deputy raised the matter with the parent Department of that Agency.