Ms Lorraine O'Donoghue:

When we introduced the changes to the foreshore consent system, anything that goes to local authorities for consideration will also have a procedure for appeals. Obviously, An Bord Pleanála's role as an appeals body will remain and will be extended. In terms of issues that go straight to An Bord Pleanála for consideration, the State's method of meeting the Aarhus requirements, which is for a substantive review procedure, is judicial review and special costs rules around environmental cases were introduced to implement that back in 2010. I would not see a departure from that in the short term. The judicial process meets the requirements of the Aarhus Convention, which is the United Nations benchmark in terms of access to justice. It has only been in place in Ireland for a couple of years, so I would not see any departure from it in the short term.