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

We need clarification, as Deputy Boyd Barrett said, on exactly what is meant by "maritime area that is State-owned"? Is that the entire maritime area? It seems to me, reading this amendment, that it is fairly black and white that it allows the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the consent of the Minister, to delegate to MARA the function of selling or otherwise disposing of any part of the maritime area that is State-owned.

It does not say the Minister can have the administration of a sale or disposal process carried out by MARA. This implies fairly clearly that the decision to sell and the entire process around that can be delegated to MARA. If that is not the Minister of State's intention, this amendment should be withdrawn and a different wording provided specifying how MARA can be involved in the administration of the sale or disposal process. Otherwise, I very much fear the amendment will open the door to a whole range of things the Minister of State does not envisage, bearing in mind his comments on the amendment.

I have huge concerns in this regard. If marine areas are sold off and are then subject to private interests, that potentially compromises the designation of an area as a marine protected area because the private interest can say it bought it for a specific amount with the expectation there would not be various restrictions put on its activity and so forth. It potentially compromises our ability to designate Natura 2000 sites that have not yet been properly designated as such. It really allows for a huge amount of discretion in these matters. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could clarify that point.