Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

There are references in the old case law to 17th century grants by the king of rights to the foreshore. I would like an assurance from the Minister that in phase 3 - the next piece of legislation - there will be an absolute quenching of any such rights, which are an abuse of the constitutional position under Articles 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 and have caused incredible grief in different places. There is no basis for it in contemporary law, but there are some private claims. This needs to be quenched.

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