I have raised the proposed mussel farm in Kinsale with the Taoiseach before. This proposal, which will cover a vast area of sea, will have huge negative consequences for tourism, watersports and fishermen in the area. The guidelines must be changed. When I raised the Kinsale issue and formally called for change, my request was refused by the Minister, Michael Creed, at the time. The guidelines must be changed. This Kinsale mussel farm application is going on since 2024. There have been 21 years of ducking and diving. This week we learned that the decision to refuse or give a licence is being kicked down the road. I have a booklet that contains the names of 7,000 people who have signed objections to this farm. Surely 7,000 voices against the mussel farm being thrown at them in Kinsale will have to be heard. The will of the people will have to be heard by the Department. It has to stop this carry-on of putting off the decision for another 12 months. It should make the right decision and stop the mussel farm in Kinsale.

I appreciate the importance of this issue and the impact it is having on the population and the community in Kinsale. The fact that it was put off may suggest a fairly significant examination of this in all its aspects. I will keep in touch with the Deputy on it and with the authorities and the Department as well.