Vol. 504 No. 6
3 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when he will establish the Seaweed Forum which was promised in June 1998; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the delay is causing concern to those involved in the seaweed industry and holding up legislation. [12369/99]
I can confirm for the Deputy that plans are being finalised for the Seaweed Forum and all the relevant players and organisations are currently being invited to participate. I will be inviting a member of the Irish Seaweed Industry Organisation to chair the forum and I will announce the chairperson and the membership shortly. I have also asked the Marine Institute to take a leading role in supporting and facilitating the work of the forum. The composition of the forum will be drawn from the lrish Seaweed Industry Organisation – six nominations – Arramara Teoranta, UCG – two nominations – UCC, the Marine Institute, BIM, Údarás na Gaeltachta and my Department.
The forum will be the key consultation phase in developing a legislative framework within which to develop the seaweed industry to its full potential. The outcome of the forum's work will therefore critically inform and assist the preparation of an Alginate Industries Bill, as signalled in An Action Programme for the Millennium.
The overall remit of the Seaweed Forum will be to examine and report on the potential for the development of seaweed resources, with a particular focus on value added. The forum will: evaluate the current state of knowledge of the seaweed resource and its economic contribution; consult widely with the relevant participants and industry players; investigate the potential uses of seaweed, taking into account future research needs and global market opportunities; examine any barriers to realising the sector's potential; and make recommendations to overcome these.
There are undoubted opportunities for new directions in the seaweed industry, to the benefit of our coastal communities. The findings of the Seaweed Forum will help us to set those new directions and will stimulate new thinking, enterprise and innovation in the seaweed sector.
Will the Minister explain why it is taking so long to establish the Seaweed Forum? In June 1998 he issued a press release announcing he would establish a Seaweed Forum and that the chairman would be appointed shortly. On 6 July 1998, in Galway, the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, delivered a speech on the matter, on the Minister's behalf. In September 1998 the Minister stated that he would establish a forum to develop the seaweed industry.
While the Minister had announced last June that he would appoint a chairman shortly, it took a further nine months to complete a report on the Seaweed Forum. Now that the Minister is about to appoint the chairman and other members of the forum, will he elaborate on how long it will take? What impact will this have on the Alginate Industries Bill, which is pending? I have referred to the legislation many times in the Chamber. I cannot understand the Minister's procrastination on this issue and his repetitive press releases, given that he has failed to deliver on it until now when he has been put under pressure to do so.
The different sectors have been asked to propose their nominees, and that has taken some time.
The nominees were indicated in the press release of July 1998.
Yes, but the names of selected individuals had to be submitted. The industry has been in a very difficult situation and, in that sense, it has not been so focused. The industry currently has serious commercial problems. The recent economic downturn in the Asian market led to a great deal of uncertainty and difficulty, and because of that the various sectors are refocusing their efforts. Some parts of the industry are being made available on the open market. While the industry has been going through a difficult period, nonetheless it could work out as an advantage eventually.
Another difficulty concerned finalising the servicing of the sector. Nothing had previously been provided for it and the Deputy is aware of the limitations on staff. I understand that the Marine Institute will service it and that will be very helpful from our point of view. I regret it has taken so long to get the Seaweed Forum off the ground but I can assure the Deputy it will be done.
