625. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation to strengthen salmon farm licence regulations and enforcement, particularly in light of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board determination of 12 September 2025 in the case AP1/2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56621/25]

626. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to take a judicial review in relation to the determination of 12 September 2025 by the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in the case AP1/2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56622/25]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.

On the 10th April 2019, following an examination by my Department of possible overharvesting at the aquaculture site referred to by the Deputy, a ministerial decision was made that:

A breach of the relevant aquaculture licence condition 2(e) had occurred. Condition 2(e) of the licence states:

“the Licensee shall not harvest more than 500 tonnes (dead weight) of salmon in any one calendar year”

The statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned Company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (Mowi Ireland)) to continue aquaculture operations under the provisions of Section 19(A)4 of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act be treated as discontinued.

This decision was appealed to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB), which is an independent body established by statute for the purpose of considering appeals of Ministerial decisions in respect of aquaculture. On 12th September 2025, ALAB determined that the statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (Mowi Ireland)) to continue operations at the Site should not be discontinued on the basis of the breach of Condition 2(e) of the Licence in 2016.

My officials are currently examining the determination and its implications for my Department. Work is also progressing within my Department on the legislative amendments necessary to give effect to the Ministerial decision made in November 2023 to phase out the operation of Section 19A(4) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.