Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 6

Written Answers. - Fisheries (Amendment) Bill.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

298 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine whether he will grant a fish culture licence to a company (details supplied) in County Donegal under section 15 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, for which a notice of application appeared in newspapers (details supplied) on Friday, 17 January 1997, or whether it is his intention not to licence any salmon farms until the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1996, becomes law; whether he will require the company to apply for an aquaculture licence under the Act; and whether he will require that the environmental impact statement published in accordance with section 15(a) of the 1959 Act in support of the application for a fish culture licence be republished in accordance with the provision of the new Act. [3602/97]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Pending enactment of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, which will provide for a new licensing and regulatory framework for aquaculture, licence applicants are being assessed and, where appropriate and possible, determined under the existing statutory regime provided under the Fisheries and Foreshore Acts. The assessment and public consultative process in respect of the licence application in question is not yet complete.

The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill provides that an application for a fish culture licence received by the Minister but not as yet determined, will be deemed as an application for an aquaculture licence on commencement of section 74 of the Bill and will be determined accordingly. Section 74 of the Bill also provides that where public notice procedures have been undertaken that they do not have to be repeated.