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

Amendment No. 14 proposes to specify a number of bodies as prescribed for the purpose of the entire Act. While acknowledging the positive intentions of this proposal, it cannot be accepted. Bodies may be prescribed under this Act for different purposes and not all of the listed bodies may need to be consulted for every single purpose. For example, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Heritage Council are unlikely to be consulted regarding a development proposal 100 km offshore. In addition, specifying bodies in primary legislation creates practical difficulties, as further primary legislation would be required to amend where titles or functions of bodies change over time. As is normal practice, the prescription of bodies will be done through secondary legislation. I can assure the Deputies of that.

In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, the advisory group I have chaired represents the entire maritime community. Unfortunately, through Covid, we did not physically get to meet, but in the online meetings it was incredible to see the number of individuals and bodies present and taking an interest in the process. One point we have learned in recent years as legislators is that the wider the consultation, involving more communities and interest groups, the better the legislation we will get. I am certain that we are doing that in the current process.