Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
159 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when legislation to licence aquaculture on Lough Foyle will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas in view of the fact that commitments were made in 1994 and 1995 that it would be forthcoming within three months; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay and the precise timescale for moving the badly needed legislation forward. [5429/04]
View answerUnder the British Irish Agreement Act 1999, responsibility for the development and licensing of aquaculture in Lough Foyle was conferred on the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission.
My Department is working in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland and respective legal advisers. We want to design the necessary legislation to enable the loughs agency of the FCILC to, inter alia, exercise its aquaculture functions as soon as practicable. The legislation is complex and needs to provide for the licensing and control of aquaculture, including a full appeals process and fish health matters. It must also address jurisdictional issues, including access to courts North and South in respect of offences committed in a cross-Border context. The aim is to ensure that aquaculture in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough is developed and managed in a sustainable way.
My Department is continuing its efforts to finalise the drafting of its part of the Foyle Carlingford Fisheries Bill and to facilitate publication by the earliest possible date.
