Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Such issues should be Members' real subject of discussion, given that no Member is against this motion or opposes the mapping of our marine territory. While I will leave that point, it merited being made.

I will turn to the motion in a general sense. The main advantages of the mapping project relate in the first instance to the development of offshore energy projects as mapping is key to identifying suitable sites and cable routes for wind, wave and tidal generators. That constitutes one good byproduct of the mapping project, while another pertains to safer offshore navigation. Moreover, it will support work being carried out under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, whereby Ireland has been successful in extended continental shelf submissions, to which Senator Keaveney alluded. Use of the data also includes the simulation of tides which is useful for aquaculture and coastal protection engineers, as well a production of maps on the nature of the seabed, whether mud, sand, rock or gravel, which is used both for environment protection and more efficient fishing practices. Similarly, the data can be used to provide updates for the national shipwrecks database maintained by the national monuments service which is used by sports fishermen and divers. These constitute the essential, immediate and practical outputs or benefits from the mapping programme being commended.

The INFOMAR programme began in the summer of 2006 with surveys of valuable fishing and fish farming areas in Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay and fish spawning areas off the south-west coast. The 2007 survey began in April of that year to extend coverage of the biologically sensitive area around the Dingle Peninsula and continued by mapping Galway Bay in July and Waterford Bay in October. The programme has been extending gradually in that fashion and continues to map areas around the country. To date, its achievement has been the creation of a marine dataset to underpin present and future Irish economic, environmental, infrastructural and social policy decisions, as well as upgraded Irish marine surveying infrastructure and so on.

It is important to make a general reference to the use of mapping data. I am completely in favour of approving the continuation of the mapping process, recognising the achievements in that area to date and commending its future use and continuation. A subject worthy of mention in the House is the manner in which these data will be used. The one thing that comes through from all the analyses of our current economic situation and the international situation is the fact that fossil fuel resources are running out. They will become more expensive in coming years. Oil will become an increasingly expensive commodity. Consequently, the development and use of wind and wave energy as green alternative energy resources to finite fossil fuel resources is very important. We must develop both onshore and offshore wind energy. The mapping process will be useful in that context for the siting of wind farms and the identification of satisfactory locations on the seabed. Wave energy is being explored in Ireland and is worthy of continued exploration. I understand continued progress is being made in this area, which is important. The mapping data will be important for developing wave energy.

The data will also be important when the new Common Fisheries Policy is negotiated in the European Union. This is due to come up for review, as is the Common Agricultural Policy, and the data from the seabed surveys will be critical in advancing the Irish position. We must try to redress the fact that we were lax in protecting our fishing interests in the past and correct it in the future.

The development of wave and offshore wind energy, the development and protection of our fishing industry and the development of safe buffer zones to generate new fishing stocks all make this survey of vital interest. For that reason my party will not oppose the motion. We only oppose it to the extent that we consider it almost facile that it is on the agenda. However, it is on the agenda and we will support it.