Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Will the DMAPs provide for greater granularity and specification of an MSP? I ask the Minister of State to explain how the two interact. If the DMAPs are providing for further granularity and specification for an MSP, they will need to be developed consistently with the methodology requirements of the marine spatial planning directive and be properly approved by the Oireachtas. Will this happen?

Amendment No. 110 relates to mitigation measures, which are important. This amendment seeks to protect them and ensure that measures are included to avoid impacts on the integrity of European or Natura 2000 sites. The Bill allows for quite a lot of discretion and that could alter and affect mitigation and have an effect on the Natura sites so it is important to have this amendment. I previously referenced the importance of doing something like they have done in Scotland in terms of mitigation and renewable energy, where every licence contributes to the Scottish marine environmental enhancement fund. That is a good model of mitigation. There are other site-specific mitigation measures as well. That is what amendment No. 110 is about.