Aquaculture Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2017

Thursday, 14 December 2017

Ceisteanna (556)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

556. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns regarding the potential conflict of interest inherent in the fisheries division of his Department which is responsible for both the licensing of aquaculture in addition to the development and growth of the aquaculture and fisheries industries across the country; his plans to reform the current arrangement in order that a healthy distinction is made between the separate roles of regulation and policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53660/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department has five distinct Marine Divisions. These are the Sea Fisheries Administration Division, Sea Fisheries Policy and Management Division, Marine Programmes Division, Marine Engineering Division and the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division. 

The Sea Fisheries Policy and Management Division of my Department is responsible for, among other things, the corporate governance oversight of the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the independent Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board. 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).

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 my 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, an independent authority for the determination of appeals against decisions of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on aquaculture licence applications. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Minister on an aquaculture licence application, or by the revocation or amendment of an aquaculture licence, may make an appeal within one month of publication (in the case of a decision) or notification (in the case of revocation/amendment). The secretariat of the board is located in Kilminchy Court Dublin Road Portlaoise Co. Laois. Email: [e-mail].

I believe that the separation of functions sought by the Deputy is already clearly in existence.