I thank Senator Coogan for enabling this Bill to go through the House so quickly. I thank the Minister for the work he is doing. Many of the licences to which the Minister referred were in the system for many years and the proposal for future licences which will be issued to achieve the target of a turnover of £450 million is something that has not been seen in the past. Those licences might cause more difficulties and there might be more objections than has been the case up to now.
I appreciate that the national development plan has doubled the investment in aquaculture to £25 million. I hope the measures set out by the Minister for the next 15 years are achievable, but whether Wexford wins the All Ireland hurling championships inside the 15 years is debatable.
I thank the Minister and his officials for the help they have given in relation to marine Bills. I am surprised Senator Fitzgerald, with his long-standing knowledge of the fishing industry, had to ask questions on seaweed.