Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank Dr. Mellett, Ms Brien and Mr. O'Leary. I apologise, I had to chair in the Seanad so I am only coming in now. I am conscious that this is MARA's first presentation to us. Dr. Mellett set out clearly his vast experience. There are not too many vice admirals heading up coastal strategic organisations like MARA. Clearly, he has unique insight and experience. He set out his skill set very well in his paper. I love the confidence but I would not expect any less from an admiral. His visionary leadership, proven track record and inspiring, motivating delivery are all very positive. I genuinely wish him well.

I live in Dún Laoghaire and I was a member of its harbour company for two or three terms. I fully understand, therefore, the issues regarding the complexities of development in this context. What a wonderful harbour we have in Dún Laoghaire. What a wonderful coast we have all around this country. To touch on a few issues, local planning authorities, and especially the coastal planning authorities, are very important. The Office of the Planning Regulator, with which I am sure MARA has or will have close links, carried out several information sessions with councillors concerning planning.

Regarding the coastal local authorities, specifically, I think there are major issues in this regard. Clearly, the members of local authorities are elected. They represent their communities. In terms of subsidiarity, they are the people on the ground. I suggest, therefore, that MARA might network through their representative bodies in the form of the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA. I say this because those organisations have formal conferences, where they seek speakers on key policy aspects. It is a formal rather than an informal process. It is also not tied to a particular local authority. Two conferences are run by those organisations every year and I think Dr. Mellett and MARA would find in them a venue and a space to set out information. I suggest an endeavour of that type because this is a learning curve, a significant one, for us all.

This committee has obviously been very much involved in maritime area regulation and the issues encountered in this regard. MARA will clearly have a key role in streamlining the consent process. I still cannot get my head around it. I will be honest about that. This is important, though. MARA's responsibilities include the granting of marine licences for specific activities, compliance and enforcement. These are going to be enormous tasks. I refer as well to the resources needed in this regard. Undertaking this work in the areas of compliance, enforcement, the issuing of licences, undertaking investigations, mounting prosecutions and the overall administration are all major and daunting tasks. This is particularly the case given it has been unregulated.

There has been resistance to developments in this area, but I genuinely think people are changing. I refer to the huge potential for offshore renewable energy. A few years ago, there was no question of talking about this area. I can think of six projects along the east coast, from Drogheda out to Wicklow, against which mass public meetings were held, but this occurred at a time when there was a background of uncertainty. No one really quite knew or understood the benefits of renewables. The greatest focus now is on the cost, the spondulicks, of energy. Things are now different because of this focus.

I genuinely wish Dr. Mellett well in his new role. It is early days yet, but is he confident that he has the resources, the skill sets, the people and the finances in place to fully roll out the functions of MARA as envisaged under the legislation approved by the Oireachtas? Ultimately, we are talking about legislation that we put through these Houses and that was debated by this committee. There was a lot of resistance. Amendments were proposed to it. At the end of the day, however, it has been passed as legislation. I am very conscious, especially in the context of the Opposition in the Oireachtas, that we need to keep the pressure on if MARA does not have the resources. This is important. There is no point in limping on and then three years later telling us it was not possible to deliver because the organisation did not have the resources.

Everything comes back to resources and skill sets. Clearly, a vast number of different skill sets may need to be contracted in or utilised as part of a synergy with other entities. We do not need to be building layers and layers. The resource aspect is the core of my question. I genuinely wish Dr. Mellett and his team well. I have observed him for a long time and seen him operating. I think he is the right man in the job. He has the motivation, and he clearly also has the energy and determination required. Importantly, he has the knowledge of the sea and all that goes with that. I wish him the best of luck with his new role and I just hope the requisite resources are available to roll out what we envisaged in the Oireachtas when we passed this legislation.