Vol. 491 No. 4
15 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 has not yet been implemented; the number of licences waiting to be processed in 1998; when the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board will be formally constituted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12298/98]
There are on hand at present 451 applications for aquaculture licences. I expect to have many of them dealt with before the end of this year under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 when its licensing provisions are operational.
As I indicated in reply to Dáil Questions Nos. 52 and 53 on 31 March 1998. I had already commenced certain provisions of that Act on 26 February 1998, primarily to enable me to prescribe organisations to nominate persons for appointment by me as the six ordinary members of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board and to make necessary aquaculture licence application and fees regulations.
The establishment of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board is a key element of the new aquaculture licensing arrangements. Nominations for the appointment of the six ordinary members closed on 15 May. I am currently considering the nominations and will shortly be making my selection and asking the Government to decide as to who is to be the chairperson of the board. The Act requires the Government to appoint the chairperson of the board. My plan is, therefore, for the establishment of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board and for the commencement of the licensing provisions of the Act at the same time before the end of next month.
In the meantime, work is progressing well on the preparation of the necessary application and fees regulations and, subject to promised consultation with the industry on the fees proposed, my aim is to have those regulations in place within a few weeks.
