Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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126. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions he is taking to consult fishing bodies regarding offshore renewable projects. [23337/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has made significant advances in the development of marine planning policy over the last number of years, including the launch of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) and the signing of the Maritime Area Planning Act in 2021. Implementation work on those continues at pace within my Department and remains ongoing.

Public consultation, including consultation with fishermen and fishing organisations, was a key element throughout the development of the NMPF. In response to concerns of both the fisheries and ORE sectors, I instructed my Department officials to establish a seafood/ORE working group to assist the managed introduction of the offshore renewables industry into the maritime area.

Chaired by Captain Robert McCabe the Group comprises some 17 separate seafood representative bodies and the 4 main ORE representative bodies. Wider group membership beyond the 2 main industries includes the 3 Government Departments and associated bodies with relevant maritime expertise in safety at sea, offshore electricity generation and maritime surveying. Substantial progress has been made on the initial objective of agreeing a basis for communications between the industries. This guidance document will provide a detailed outline of the procedures for ORE to engage with the fishing community, and the responsibilities held by both industries in terms of communications and engagements. I hope to announce further details of that in the coming weeks.

I also think it important to note that strong protections for the rights of the fishing community are enshrined in the legally binding NMPF Fisheries policies. These polices reflect the public consultation responses received from the fishing community during the development of the NMPF. Any proposal that may have a significant adverse impact must demonstrate how it will, in order of preference, (a) avoid, (b) minimise or (c) mitigate any such impact. These measures will have to be addressed in the planning application and will be assessed by the relevant planning authority, which in the case of ORE developments, will be An Bord Pleanála.