Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
291. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contacts his Department has had with Marine Harvest Ireland since the company applied for a licence for a giant salmon farm at Shot Head, Bantry Bay, County Cork; and if these contracts undermine the public's confidence in his Department's impartiality as a licence regulator. [10560/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMarine Harvest Ireland submitted an application to my Department for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish at Shot Head, Bantry Bay in June 2011. Since then the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of my Department has met with the company on 15 occasions. These meetings are part of a long-standing and ongoing series of co-ordination meetings held to discuss general operational matters relevant to the company’s activities.
On 30 January 2014 I met with representatives of Marine Harvest Ireland. The meeting was chaired by an Taoiseach. Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department were also in attendance. The meeting was held at the request of the company to discuss licensing and industry development issues associated with the company’s operations in Ireland.
On 6 March 2014 I met with representatives of Marine Harvest Ireland in Bergen, Norway on the margins of the North Atlantic Seafood Forum.
At the above meetings no discussion took place which would conflict with my role or the role of my Department in relation to aquaculture licensing.
