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

That is something that will move across. It has not yet, but I think I mentioned to the committee, and I have talked to the Irish Environmental Network, about maybe advancing it through the national DMAP. We went from 3% to 10% marine protected areas over the course of the last Government and we are committed to doing 30%. We will do it. I would like to see primary legislation on it. There were difficulties in getting that concluded before the last general election, but a lot of the work is done. I am just assessing whether it would be quicker for us to do that under the national DMAP. The national DMAP does not just have to be about renewables, as the Deputy knows. We could do marine protected areas and renewables as part of that process.

For the Deputy's information, I am not sure whether it will be before the recess but we will be seeking priority drafting of an amendment to the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 in order to streamline the regulatory system. That is a different thing, as it is the planning Act that is in place, whereas the Deputy is asking about the marine protected areas Bill.