Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McCabe. The planning framework is a significant document, especially if one includes the Natura impact statement and the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, that accompany it. As a document that sets out to plan for the development, use and management of the maritime area, it includes all sectors. I cannot see any sector that has been left out. Every agency, user, Department and commercial or societal user seems to be covered in it, as is environmental protection to a great degree. As an overall strategy for the interaction of all of those users, it covers a great amount of ground. Mr. McCabe mentioned consultation with the public and with stakeholders. A wide range of stakeholders are involved in the advisory group and public consultation on the framework was wide and spread out geographically. Much information is brought together in the framework, especially the mapping and the links to other strategy or guidance documents for other sectors involved in the marine. It is a document to which I will refer anybody who has an inquiry about maritime or marine activity. It stands up to that test. I thank Mr. McCabe and his Department for the work they have put into it. A tremendous amount of work has gone into it over the last two or three years.

I will now move on to the members. I ask members to identify themselves clearly to allow the Debates Office to record their names. Who is to be the first speaker for Fianna Fáil?