Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 19, to delete lines 12 and 13 and substitute the following: “ “nearshore area”, in relation to a CPA, shall be construed in accordance with section 5;”.

This grouping will provide for revised arrangements to resolve certain practical difficulties with the operation of the text as initiated following further review by my officials and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The revised provisions propose default boundaries of the nearshore areas of neighbouring coastal planning authorities, CPAs, subject to subsequent designation by order to account for local circumstances and geography.

Amendment No. 13 will simplify the definition of “nearshore area” in section 2. Amendment No. 20 proposes that the boundaries of the nearshore areas will, by default, be equidistant between two neighbouring coastal planning authorities. Amendments Nos. 21, 23, 24, 26, 27 and 29 are minor technical amendments to account procedurally for the variation from the default.

Amendment No. 28 will increase the timeframe for response from a coastal planning authority relating to a proposed designation. This formal consultation period will only be initiated following detailed technical engagement with the authority concerned. Finally, amendment No. 22 proposes procedural changes to the nearshore designation.

I thank Deputy McAuliffe for his proposal in amendment No. 22, which would have improved the legal text as initiated. It has, however, been superseded by the revisions required for default boundaries between CPAs and, unfortunately, cannot be accepted. He might consider withdrawing the amendment based on my comments.