Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It has to be compliant because it sits under the framework. A marine area plan must be compliant with the national marine planning framework. That is the hierarchy of plan making. Effectively, it is already covered. I think we are splitting hairs here, to be frank. The Marine Area Planning Act for the first time sets out the national marine planning framework and this whole section deals with how the NPF will interact with the national marine planning framework. Anything under that sits in a clearly-stated legal position under the Marine Area Planning Act. It is explicit and what we have included in the Bill, as published, is absolutely sufficient. It is explicit and speaks very clearly to that coordination within it. I have outlined clearly why there should not be any concern whatsoever that maritime spatial plans do not have any legal standing. They absolutely do and the legal standing they have is detailed in the Marine Area Planning Act. That Act has brought forward major changes to how we operate our maritime area. This section of Chapter 2 deals with the interaction and coordination between both frameworks - the NPF and the National Marine Planning Framework. What the Deputies are asking for is already there.