Ms Mary Kelly:

Part of the environmental impact assessment process takes into account public submissions. It is a very structured approach. There are public notices and submissions are received. There is an oral hearing at that stage and there is full participation in the environmental impact assessment process. It is completely in line with the Aarhus convention and we must ensure it is. If this goes through and we are the competent authority in the foreshore area, we will conduct very rigorous environmental impact assessments with full public consultation, oral hearings and all that goes with it.

There is no appeal process in the strategic infrastructure development cases we deal with on land at present and the board is the authority of first and last consent. There is provision for judicial review. An Bord Pleanála is a one-stop shop with regard to receiving an application and making a decision.