Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach is tough like a Cork or Kerry footballer, which is a great trait.

I raise an issue I raised in a recent Commencement debate, namely, aquaculture licence applications for Ballyness Bay in County Donegal. Since I raised the matter in the House, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine last week granted approval for 14 of the 18 applications, effectively giving approval for an area the size of 40 ha that can now be used for harvesting with trestles Pacific oysters and clams. The local community are deeply annoyed at the decision, taken swiftly by the Minister, in light of the fact that, in general, such applications take up to two years for a decision to be made. The decision in this case was made within approximately six months of the applications being submitted. There are significant questions to be answered about the public consultation process, given that the local community were not provided with the opportunity to make submissions prior to the Minister's decision. Their only option is to appeal to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, which is an expensive process, with each appeal costing €200. There are 14 licences, and if any group or individual appeals all the applications, it will cost €2,800.

The Minister has got the matter deeply wrong. He spoke in this House and the Dáil, and has blatantly ignored the public concerns over the issue. While nobody wants to deprive people of a livelihood or an economic benefit garnered through farming or aquaculture, the public good, as well the destruction that could be forced on a small bay, needs to be taken into consideration. That did not happen, however, before the Minister arrived at his decision to grant the licences. It is most unfortunate. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the processing of aquaculture licences. Although it may not be possible before the Christmas recess, I would like the Minister to come before the House to discuss the issue in general terms early in the new year.