Developing seaweed industry and priorities for Minister on Environment Committee agenda

The schedule for the meeting is:

1.    Scrutiny of EU Proposals – COM (2014) 267; COM (2014) 544 and COM (2014) 617
2.    ‘Developing the Seaweed Industry in Ireland including the Feasibility of Developing Seaweed Farms’ - Michael Keatinge, Interim CEO, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Prof Mark Johnson and Dr Maeve Edwards, Irish Seaweed Research Group, NUIG.
3.    Discussion with the Minister on a number of topics - Alan Kelly TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Michael McCarthy TD, Chairman of the Committee, said: “The Department has a broad remit overseeing a number of key areas such as environmental protection, promoting and supporting the development of communities and the community and voluntary sector; ensuring good quality housing in sustainable communities; ensuring that planning and building in our regions and communities contributes to sustainable and balanced development; monitoring, analysing and predicting Ireland’s weather and climate and supporting local government. As the Committee shadowing the work of the Department, we will have an opportunity to concentrate on the priorities and future plans for the Department in the coming years with the Minister at our meeting tomorrow.

“Before we meet the Minister, we will discuss developing the seaweed industry in Ireland, including the feasibility of developing seaweed farms with Michael Keatinge, Interim CEO, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Prof Mark Johnson and Dr Maeve Edwards, Irish Seaweed Research Group, NUIG. Earlier this year, the Committee held hearings on issues around licensing to harvest seaweed and the legislation governing the collecting seaweed from our foreshores, as well as considering the harvesting of naturally grown seaweed sector and the concept of developing a farmed seaweed sector. The seaweed industry, which is closely linked with the Gaeltacht, comprises traditional, wild, naturally grown and cultivated or farmed seaweed. Ireland’s seaweed and biotechnology sector is currently worth approximately €18 million per annum with a target in place to grow the sector to €30 million by 2020 as outlined in the Marine Institute Sea Change Strategy 2006, so it is timely and important that we consider issues around developing the seaweed industry in Ireland.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 2nd December 2014 with scrutiny of a number of EU legislative proposals: COM (2014) 267; COM (2014) 544 and COM (2014) 617

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Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Ruth Coppinger (Socialist Party); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD;  Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).

Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).