Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2017
372. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department continues to thwart the intentions of the Houses of the Oireachtas that established the Marine Institute, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board as independent agencies by keeping these agencies under the control of his Department's fisheries and marine division which has a major conflict of interest. [47820/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has five distinct Marine Divisions. These are the Sea Fisheries Administration Division, Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division, Marine Programmes Division, Marine Engineering Division and the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division. The Marine Agencies Governance Unit, located within the Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division of my Department, is responsible for corporate governance oversight of the Marine Institute (MI), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the independent Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board (ALAB). The oversight role of the Department in this respect is to ensure that each of the marine agencies is and remains compliant with the revised code of practice for the Governance of state bodies (2016). The marine related policy functions which fall under the aegis of this Department are managed in accordance with relevant applicable legislation. Marine policy functions are located within a number of Divisions within the Department. Aquaculture policy is within the remit of the Marine Programmes Division, a separate Division to the Division that is responsible for corporate governance. Aquaculture licence applications are considered by the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of the Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation. The legislation provides for a period of statutory and general public consultation in respect of every application. Decisions on applications are made following the fullest consideration of all environmental, technical, legislative and public interest aspects of each application. In addition, it is open to any member of the public to appeal the Minister’s decision to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board.
