Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On the point around marine protected areas, there are protections in place within the planning system, which, insofar as has been possible, have been written into the material considerations for both the board and local authorities, under sections 293(3) and 282(2), respectively, of the 2000 Act, as inserted by the Bill. This means that any legislation and designations emanating from the transposition of the marine strategy framework directive will be a material consideration in any planning application. In addition, the relevant provisions of the planning Acts in respect of environmental impact and other appropriate assessments will be applied to decisions under the provisions in this Bill.

I want to assure the Deputies again regarding the marine protected areas. As I am sure Deputy Boyd Barrett has noted, this is an iterative process, on which we have had public consultation. We are still trying to distil the 3,000-plus submissions we received. We are clear that in designing legislation governing marine protected areas, the ongoing elements of public consultation will be a continual part of that process. I go back to the point that all of these plans are interconnected and supportive of what we are trying to achieve with marine protected areas and marine biodiversity. I give that assurance to Members.

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