Ms Attracta U? Bhroin:

There has got to be an awful lot more discussion about this and a lot more consideration. To be honest, answering such questions is above my pay grade.

The critical point is that this matter requires detailed expert scrutiny and advice that would assist the committee, and that is our firm recommendation here. Obviously there are constitutional provisions in respect of the State's ownership of minerals, etc. but foreshore licences can be granted in respect of things like this. We need to be very clear about what is being proposed here, why and if the State is being asked to effectively cede a licence interest as that is a very serious matter and we need to understand the implications.

I think that this committee is very aware of the Maritime Area Planning Act. Within that Act one of our very concerns was the extent to which the authority of multiple agencies and Departments is extremely limited by that Act in respect of maritime area consents. There are a whole number of things acting here in the context of what is a really important but very fast moving and complicated area. We just need to make sure that we have a clear handle on what is being proposed and that is our concern. We do not.