Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, nobody is talking about ripping up the marine planning framework. There are many aspects of the marine planning framework which are very good, so it is important the Minister of State understands that we are not opposed to it or asking to rewrite it, and we would just like the review to happen earlier. While the Minister of State is correct that the Government does have to comply with the various articles of various EU directives, there is a long history of weak, poor or non-compliance with said directives, which is, of course, why we are so often in front of the European Court of Justice and found in breach of similar articles. Therefore, the value of citing those particular articles is to strengthen the need for compliance.

5 o’clock

I want to focus in the minute remaining to me on the lag between the marine protected areas legislation, with its crucial role in protecting marine biodiversity, and this Bill. Deputy Matthews was being a little unfair in some of what he said. It would have been helpful if he had remained in the Chamber because I fully agree with most of his contribution. The really concerning point from what we heard yesterday is that we are not going to have formal, legally protected marine protected areas until 2023, 2024 and 2025 because the legislation will not be in place until 2023. That is the clear import of the briefing yesterday by the Minister of State's officials. Nobody was in any way suggesting the officials have not been working exceptionally hard, like the officials who have been working on this incredibly complex and technical legislation. There is a volume of work happening behind the scenes that we have always acknowledged. The reality, however, is that we are going to have a Minister, following the passage of this legislation today, granting maritime area consents, and private industry and public, semi-State companies applying for planning permissions, three years before we have decisions on designation.

That is a significant thing and I know the Minister of State agrees it is, whatever about what he says on the floor of the Dáil, because he is passionate about protecting biodiversity, including marine biodiversity. I ask that he come back specifically on this issue, which is of concern to me. In the absence of marine protected areas, what interim measures can be taken?

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