Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2019
564. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the independent aquaculture licensing review group; if he will report on the recommendations being considered; when the review will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26734/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016, I commissioned the Independent Review of Aquaculture Licensing and the Report of the Group was submitted in 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.
Since receiving the report of the review group, my Department has engaged in detailed consideration of the recommendations set out in the report with a view to their implementation, having regard to the legislative, environmental, technical and public interest issues that arise. My Department has also engaged closely with industry representatives and relevant State agencies.
As all industry stakeholders and the EU Commission have, for different reasons, identified the elimination of the licensing backlog as the overriding priority in the reform of the licensing system, my Department’s response has focused on this issue while continuing to have regard to the other recommendations in the report. It should also be noted that the elimination of the licensing backlog will have an immediate beneficial effect on every individual aquaculture operator.
