Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2013
23. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is expected that a decision will be made on the application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for an aquaculture licence in respect of a fish farm in Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21488/13]
View answerAn application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department last year. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement is being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act.
A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application. The fullest consideration will also be given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process. As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
