Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Marine Protected Areas: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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On the issue of carbon habitats and carbon capture, I am aware that the marine planning legislation will go through first. Let us say there is an application for permission around seaweed harvesting that could potentially have impacts on species that are at risk of declining or an impact on a habitat that is very important in terms of carbon capture. If the MPA designation is not in place before that application comes in, how will the information we currently have, which should show that this is an important area that could well end up being an MPA, kick in as part of the process? Is there a way to ensure that information is not lost and will be fully captured as part of any decision-making process?

Is there a mechanism to ensure that before we have the legislation on marine protected areas fully in place? I would be concerned about that and I have used it as an example. Mr. Cronin might address that.