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

I will elaborate slightly on those provisions. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications will be enabled to invite applications from the relevant projects in a structured manner. The Minister will consider the applications in the context of the standard MAC provisions and assessment criteria. If a MAC is granted, then relevant projects can proceed to preparing and submitting a planning permission to An Bord Pleanála. Once established, MARA will assume responsibility for any MACs granted by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Work is under way in that Department to develop the MAC consenting regime and guidance for those relevant projects. It is intended that a public consultation will be held on a full suite of MAC assessment processes post the enactment of this legislation. Work is also under way on the establishment of a levy framework for offshore renewable energy, ORE.