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

The policy statement, as we discussed in the previous session, sits at the top of the hierarchy. That is in the terrestrial planning policy. It sets out the high-level objectives in terms of the way our planning system should perform in a sustainable manner. Sitting under that, we have the national marine planning framework and, in respect of onshore, the national planning framework. The Minister can also issue directions and guidelines. Directions involve being more explicit because the Minister will be directing a particular course of events. For instance, in the event that an entity such as the maritime area regulatory authority, MARA, does not do what the policy says it should do, the Minister may issue a direction to ensure that it does so. Guidelines are more subjective. We have offshore renewable energy guidelines, for example. Guidelines involve trying to guide the decision-making process to get the best outcome, whereas a direction is more specific and clear. That is my best attempt at explaining. Maybe that does not meet the standard the Deputy requires but it is the best I can do at the moment.