Results 5,341-5,360 of 7,163 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, it is catch-all.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Okay. I will move to amendment No. 114 then if that is all right.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: There is the same consultation issue with section 31 which we have just discussed. If the Minister of State is willing to look at that, it is positive. My concern is the amount of latitude that is given here. I mention amendments Nos. 115 and 116.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I know the Minister of State gave his response before we moved it but amendment No. 115 is about seeking to strengthen the language around our obligations under EU law. It is about ensuring we go further than simply not contravening EU law and directives such as the habitats and birds directives. We should have greater ambition than simply not to contravene. We should be ensuring our plans...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have a quick follow-up to my previous comments. As regards section 30(1)(a), my concern relates to the significant latitude its wording potentially provides. What are the limitations or what is the circumscription on that? Where in the legislation is that limited or defined in terms of what it means? There is a significant amount of latitude for almost anything-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am referring to section 30(1), which states: The Minister may give a direction to a public body to adopt such measures as are specified in the direction relating to— (a) the implementation of maritime spatial planning The phrase "implementation of maritime spatial planning" is potentially extremely broad. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of the section are specific, but my concern is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: On amendment No. 115, we are not trying to transpose the wording of the directives into the legislation. Through the amendment, we are seeking to ensure the word "compatible", which is the key thing here, is included in the legislation. That would strengthen the Bill. It is not a radical idea for it to be compatible.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: In the context of the word "compatible", it is not about the detail, per se, because we are not listing off the wording of the directives. It is about it being compatible with-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The word "compatible" is key here. Why would we not want the Bill and this section of it to be compatible with the directive rather than simply not contravening it? That is a significant difference. It is the nub of the issue here. From time to time, various Ministers and Government Deputies like to use the phrase "best in class". I will use Government language. Simply not contravening...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister of State thinks not contravening the directive is best in class.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Chairman is entitled to his view but I disagree with it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment 115: In page 40, lines 16 to 25, to delete all words from and including “(1) For” in line 16 down to and including line 25 and substitute the following: “(1) For the avoidance of doubt, the relevant competent authority shall, in the preparation of anything to which this subsection applies, ensure that- (a) the thing is both consistent and compatible...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 116: In page 40, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(a) a maritime planning policy statement;”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: We will not necessarily be opposing this, but I want to find out more about it. The database is only for authorisations. Does that not mean that we are missing something here in terms of forward planning? Should it not be more consistent with the standards for data and information that are set out in Article 10, for example, of the maritime spatial directive, so that the database should be...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am trying to tease out concerns about the pre-planning or forward-planning stage. Will the forward planning part be captured by this? If it is captured by this, will it be published only at the point of an authorisation at the end of the process? Is it transparent and publicly accessible in the database only at the very end? Will people be able to go onto the database to see, for...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am not raising issues around lobbying. I am asking whether the database will capture surveys or monitoring of conditions-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: My point is on where there is not an authorisation. If surveys are done that do not lead to authorisation will they be captured in the database? If they are not, it is a waste of knowledge that could be useful.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: On amendment No. 122, what sort of functions does the Minister of State envisage being delegated from the Minister to MARA? Will he give some clarification on the thinking there and how wide-ranging that could be?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, but it relates to the delegation of powers to MARA.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: If the Minister of State could clarify the matter I raised, it would be helpful. On amendment No. 123, I have huge concerns. The sale of marine areas which are State-owned could be done by MARA as opposed to the Minister. Will the Minister of State clarify what areas of the marine and seabed we are talking about? Would a sale involve the land under the seabed? Does it include the area...