asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the present position regarding the application of a co-op. society (details supplied) in County Clare for a licence to engage in fish farming on the Shannon Estuary.
Written Answers. - Fish Farming.
497.
Pending formal designation under section 54 of the Fisheries Act, 1980, of the Shannon Estuary as an area within which fish farming may be practiced it is not possible to issue the necessary licence to the society. Preparatory to such designation a public inquiry will be held. I had hoped to have this inquiry carried out earlier but because of some general objections raised at the inquiries already held to the principle of designating areas for fish farming it was not possible to proceed with it up to now. I hope, however, to have the Shannon Estuary inquiry carried out at an early date.