Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
67. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the legislative changes recommended by the review of aquaculture licensing processes; the timeframe for completion of the legislative changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7136/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commissioned the Independent Review of Aquaculture Licensing in December 2016 and the report was submitted to me at the end of May 2017. The Review Group carried out a detailed examination of the existing aquaculture licensing process, undertook comprehensive stakeholder consultation and looked at comparative national and international consent systems to determine best practice for managing a complex licensing process in a transparent, environmentally appropriate and legally robust manner.
The Group’s Report is published and available to view on my Department’s website. A total of 30 separate recommendations are contained in the Report.
The core concern of aquaculture farmers that gave rise to the Review was the licensing backlog. Accordingly it is the elimination of this backlog that is the highest priority and I can confirm that my Department is committed to and actively working towards the achievement of 300 licence determinations for 2018 with a further 300 targeted for 2019. This will meet a core objective of the Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. The achievement of 600 determinations over the next two years will effectively eliminate the backlog as an issue.
My Department’s draft Implementation Plan for the recommendations of the Review Group takes account of legislative, environmental, technical and public interest issues that have a bearing on the sustainable development of the industry. The Implementation Plan is very much a working document and will be subject to ongoing change as progress is made in addressing the various recommendations. My Department will of course consult closely with industry in the implementation of certain areas and I can confirm that my Department’s officials have already met with industry representatives on both the shellfish and finfish sides of the industry regarding the Implementation Strategy. This close engagement will continue.
In relation to Legislative change, as the Deputy will know, the Report of the Review Group acknowledges that the preparation and enactment of legislation is a lengthy process. In this regard, the Group also recommended that pragmatic practical measures should be adopted immediately and at the same time the policy and legislative review should be commenced.
All procedures in relation to aquaculture licensing are grounded in the applicable national and EU legislation including but not limited to:
- Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997
- Foreshore Act 1933
- EU Habitats Directive of 92/43/EEC
- EU Birds Directive 79/409/EEC
- Consolidated Environmental Impact Assessment Directives 2011/92/EU
- Public Participation Directive (Aarhus Convention)
Industry Representatives all agree that the elimination of the Licensing backlog is the most important pragmatic measure that needs to be addressed and it is therefore entirely correct that this be given the highest immediate priority by my Department.
My Department is fully committed to the implementation of the Report and is actively examining the optimum means of progressing all Recommendations in an efficient and effective manner having regard to all the complexities involved.
