Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last night, I attended the public consultation on the designated marine area plans, DMAP, for the proposed four sites for the offshore renewable energy wind farms off the south coast. This matter relates to the south-east region encompassing Wexford, Waterford and Cork. The fishermen there were the only real stakeholders who attended. The reality is that this was a public consultation where no compensatory measures, if required, are being proposed at this stage. It is proposed to go to auction with this in November. If this plan is to be successful, and it is a very positive development for the region, we need to look at the negatives and address them in a serious manner. The board was asked about negatives during the presentation and it skirted around them. The process has to be open and transparent and the Department needs to know that. We need to have compensation, if required, in place for our fishers who own boats that cost upwards of €1 million-----

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