Aquaculture Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

Questions (413)

Clare Daly

Question:

413. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 25 June 2015, in view of the role of the Marine Institute as scientific contributor to Bord Iascaigh Mhara's 15,000 tonne salmon farm licence application, as scientific adviser to his Department on the board's licence application, and as the scientific source for scaling guidelines set out in the national strategic plan for aquaculture development which recommended scales less than half of those in the board's application, his views that the Marine Institute has been placed in a compromising position by his Department in regard to the board's salmon farming licence application. [29124/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 25 June 2015, Ireland’s draft  National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development along with its accompanying environmental reports is currently undergoing public consultation until 24 July. I also stated that BIM’s application is still under consideration. The Marine Institute provides scientific advice in accordance with its functions.