Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

To get it clear in my mind, I keep having to refer to the terrestrial planning system in order to get a handle on what we are trying to do with the marine area. It is the first time we have taken on developing marine planning. It has not been done in the past. We know that from the previous engagements with the Department on the marine area planning Bill.

The NMPF is not a delivery document. It is not a method for delivery whereby all developments and actions will be subjected to the usual planning process, the usual licensing agreements and the usual oversight in terms of environmental or other appropriate assessments. The process to deliver any development in the marine area will be subject to the marine planning Bill. The NMPF is an overall strategy document on how we bring all the users and agencies together, as well as how we consider the natural, amenity, social and commercial value of the sea.

On page 56 of the NMPF, it states fish populations are generally improving since reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Does that refer to fish populations in the Irish area or at EU level? If possible, we would like to get the supporting documentation for that statement.

Another area the NMPF covers is amenity use of the sea. In the past year, we have seen that sea swimming has become popular. For people who are lucky enough to live within 5 km of the sea or have a suitable bathing spot within a 5 km radius, we have seen a massive uptake in sea swimming. I have seen it in my area and all along the coast in Wicklow. We test bathing water only during the bathing season, however. Blue flags can be designated to, or scores given, to bathing areas based on these tests.

Regarding an overall strategy, I would suggest that sea swimming is an annual pastime and we should expand the testing regime to 12 months of the year to give people an indication of water quality. Dublin City Council is working on a proposal relating to that. What are the witnesses' views on that? Is this something that should fit into an overall marine framework?

Regarding the strategy on pollution control, habitat protection and water quality, does this framework provide further scope and resources and a bit more firepower to look at the terrestrial source of that pollution, because the sea is the ultimate sink? Anything that comes from the land eventually ends up in the sea. That is the end of the pipe. We know a lot of land-based activities such as agriculture, forestry and municipal wastewater discharges are the main contributors to poor water quality in our rivers and lakes, but this ultimately ends up in the sea. Will this framework give more scope to address those terrestrial-based pollution sources?