I propose to take Questions Nos. 514, 515, 528 and 529 together.
Applications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the applicable National and EU legislation.
Section 4(1) of the Fisheries and Foreshore (amendment) Act 1998 states:-
4.—(1) On and from the 10th day of December, 1998, an application for an aquaculture licence shall not be accepted, or if accepted shall not be determined, if the applicant or any person on behalf of the applicant commences to engage in aquaculture at the place or waters to which the application relates before a licence is granted under the Act of 1997.
The applicability of any one Section of the legislation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the specific circumstances of each application as well as the rights and other obligations deriving from other elements of the legislation.
Decisions on licence applications are made following the fullest consideration of all scientific, technical and legislative aspects of each application.