Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

This Bill would be welcomed were it to ensure that the process of granting foreshore licences and in dealing with dumping at sea is tightened up. As it stands, a number of issues have caused concern, particularly with regard to foreshore licenses. The case that immediately springs to mind is the controversy over the granting of the foreshore licence to the companies involved in the Corrib gas project. This was granted in May 2002 by the then Minister responsible, Deputy Fahey, conveniently just before the general election. There has been no indication that a proper consultation process was followed in this regard. Another issue pertaining to the Corrib project is the sale of Bellanaboy Wood to Shell for the construction of the terminal. The sum paid was not disclosed and all requests from me and others, including freedom of information requests, to have the sum paid to Coillte for Bellanaboy Wood made public have been refused.

The foreshore is defined as the area between the high water mark and the 12-mile sea limit. However, the pipeline to be laid at Rossport before the recent decision by An Bord Pleanála requesting that it be re-routed was nine kilometres from the landfall of the pipeline coming onshore. It again appears as though Departmental officials or the Minister responsible simply made the decision without any real reference to the broader issues at stake and certainly without any consultation with anyone outside of the companies involved.

Section 12 of this Bill gives the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the power to nominate bodies to submit observations on applications for licences. I have submitted an amendment to this section setting out specifically that the consultation process must also involve relevant local groups with a proven interest in the area for which the licence has been applied. This could include, for example, local fishermen and others with an economic interest in the foreshore or representative local groups with concerns regarding the environmental impact and safety issues. I will return to the foreshore licence granted for the Corrib project to note this process was not followed, with the result that whatever the overall issues, there was from the very outset an atmosphere of mistrust and a feeling on the part of local communities that something that would have a massive impact on them would go ahead without any input from them. It is also important with major projects, such as Corrib, involving the oil and gas reserves that lie off our coast, the criteria for examining the merit of the proposal also take into account the economic impact. This would involve consultation with independent experts in the field able to provide an unbiased opinion on how much revenue would be generated and the likely benefits for local employment and the national economy.

Had such criteria been applied to the Corrib proposal, there might well have been a different outcome. Indeed, in his report rejecting the application in 2002, senior planning inspector Mr. Kevin Moore of An Bord Pleanála referred to the economic aspects of the proposal, claiming it did not fit in with the need for balanced and sustainable regional development.

Given the number of projects taking place, or planned, on foreshores, it is important proper monitoring and controls are in place to take into account the impact on the environment and the traditional use of the foreshore area for fishing, amenities and so forth. Huge potential exists in the areas of aquaculture and renewable energy production. For this to be properly developed in the interests of coastal communities, legislation must be in place to ensure proper planning conditions are attached to the granting of foreshore licences. These must strike the right balance between the economic development of the areas concerned and the environmental and other issues that may arise.

The need for a proper and accountable process regarding the granting of licences for projects is underlined by the fact the Government has set such ambitious targets for the production of energy from renewable sources. A significant proportion of it will be from sea-based wind and wave. It is important the right framework is in place and that such projects are in a position to begin as quickly as possible. Therefore, with the proviso that all interests are consulted, the period of consultation involved should not be too drawn out.

Many of the problems in the past could have been avoided if the consultation process were broad and open from the beginning, therefore not subject to the same suspicions and objections after the initial decision was made.

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