asked the Minister for Energy if he will confirm the report that the Norwegian-backed fish farm, currently operating on Whiddy Island, County Cork, is to cease operations as a result of the proposed deal between the Government and the Nigerian State Oil Company with regard to the Whiddy oil terminal.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Whiddy Island, Cork, Fish Project.
16.
There is no fish farm operating on Whiddy Island. A pilot project, to investigate the possibility of a full-scale fish farming operation was launched last year by a joint venture operation between INPC and Interaqua AS, a Norwegian company. The pilot project was conducted in one of the crude oil storage tanks at the Whiddy Island oil terminal. It is difficult to understand how discussions about the reactivation of Whiddy could lead to a cessation of the fish project as it has always been our intention to have Whiddy functioning again as an oil depot.
I understand that the experience of the pilot project is being studied by both parties at present and I would expect to receive a report shortly from INPC concerning the viability or otherwise of a commercial fish farming project at the terminal.
Does the Minister accept that it has been publicly indicated by the entrepreneurs behind the pilot project that they cannot go ahead because of the uncertainty about the future use of the Whiddy oil terminal? Is it not true that they were encouraged to go in there last year to start this pilot project, the intention being to provide a full fish farm to provide employment in the region, and that that is not now going to happen?
I accept the Deputy's point that the notion behind having this pilot scheme was that if it proved to be successful it would develop into an industrial and employment creating opportunity. The problem is that we are awaiting a report from Interaqua in relation to this whole activity. We were told that this report would be available in March. So far it has not come to hand. As soon as it does it will be considered and we will see where we can go from there.
Will the Minister accept that because of the way in which the Government have hyped up this proposal for the use of Whiddy Island, they have in effect chased away what would have been a worthwhile project for fish farming and that the probability is that the Nigerian oil proposal for Whiddy will not go ahead and that because the Government were seeking to get publicity for individual Ministers, they have now killed any possibility of establishing a fish farm on the island?
I do not accept that. One way or the other, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not necessarily a fact that the Whiddy oil development and the fishery development should be in conflict. It will be up to the local authority in carrying out their duties in relation to planning permission and so on to ensure that any development that takes place takes account of other natural facilities and resources there. The Deputy should be more hopeful and confident that the two possibilities can be implemented.
Question No. 17.
The Minister is being deliberately obtuse. The Minister knows very well that the Norwegian company involved have said that because they cannot get a satisfactory answer about the future of Whiddy, they are not going ahead with the fish farm. The end result of the publicity seeking Ministers of this Government is that any possible job creating——
We are having a statement rather than a question.
——ventures in this area cannot be delivered——
(Interruptions.)
I have called Question No. 17.
No answer.