EU Regulations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2015

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Questions (105, 106, 107)

Clare Daly

Question:

105. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his officials confirmed to the Information Commissioner on 31 July 2015 (details supplied), after a review requested by the commissioner, that they hold no records showing compliance or otherwise with the European Communities (Control of Dangerous Substances in Aquaculture) Regulations, 2008, Statutory Instrument No. 466 of 2008, in view of the regulations being signed by him on 6 November 2008. [33581/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

106. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify comments made by the Marine Institute (details supplied) regarding the release of records generated by certain European Union regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33582/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

107. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given comments made by the Information Commissioner (details supplied), the official responsible for holding records showing compliance with certain European Union regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33583/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together.

Regulation 8 of Statutory Instrument No. 466 of 2008 imposes an obligation on all aquaculture operators to maintain and make available for inspection, records which relate to their licensed aquaculture operations. There is no legislative requirement on my Department to keep these documents on file as a matter of routine. However, as stated, aquaculture operators are obliged to make relevant documents available as part of any inspection undertaken in connection with the operation of their sites under the provisions of the applicable legislation. This is consistent with the information provided by my Department to the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information.

In relation to information held by the Marine Institute the position concerning the retention of the documents referred to by the Deputy is also as set out above.