Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is complex and difficult to achieve because statutory processes are already in place for how one can develop, or not, in a special area of conservation or tourist site and guidance for Ramsar sites and natural protected heritage areas, so we will have to develop what one can or cannot do in a marine protected area.

I asked Dr. Tasman Crowe about that when he was here for the pre-legislative scrutiny of the marine planning development management Bill. The designation of a marine protected area does not mean one cannot do anything in the area and there will be graduated approaches and time and activity constraints. It is not straightforward to achieve and to achieve at the 30% scale considering we have none covered at the present, except by EU designation.

When does Mr. McCabe think we will see the statutory marine planning guidelines?