Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. Cronin for the presentation. We have been waiting some time for this. Obviously, we have been dealing with the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 for some time. As Mr. Cronin knows, international best practice strongly advocates that if one is introducing the kind of planning regime we have just introduced for the maritime area, especially given the scale of offshore renewable wind energy we need, it would be better if offshore planning and wind provision were done in parallel with marine protected areas.

We will have a significant time lag and I was hoping Mr. Cronin could be more specific in terms of the timeframes for the legislation. Some of it is beyond his control and is covered by the Business Committee. However, when does he think the general scheme will be published and when does he hope to have the legislation introduced and passed through the Oireachtas?

My understanding from talking to experts in the field is it can sometimes take up to two years from the legislation to the point at which one really gets into large-scale designation. That raises a serious concern about the legacy wind farm projects that we will progress prior to the establishment of the maritime area regulatory authority, MARA, with the Minister providing the maritime consents. That raises the question of mitigation measures. Some people have argued for a situation in which large areas are designated on a precautionary basis as protected areas and certain areas then opt out. It seems the Department is not considering that approach. If not, has the Department considered it and why is it not adopting or advocating this approach?

What mitigation measures is the Department advocating, especially in the east coast and those areas that are the sites of the current seven legacy projects? While obviously wind energy and biodiversity protection can co-exist, in the absence of designations and adequate data, it is not clear how that can be done in the most appropriate way. Mr. Cronin is right in that a significant amount of the area one mile offshore is currently protected. However, in very large areas, there is virtually no enforcement of that and the protections have very little value. Will Mr. Cronin tell us what additional measures will be put in place to ensure designation is not just theoretical but is backed up by real enforcement and restoration where required?