Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 11, subsection (1), after line 42, to insert the following:

"(c) regulation made under paragraph (b) shall be made within 30 days of the commencement of this section.".

The purpose of this amendment is to ensure the Minister outlines a timeframe for the submission of observations and applications for foreshore leases, licences etc. within 30 days of the commencement of this section of the Bill. It goes back to my submission on the first amendment that much of the difficulty arising in this area has to do with a general lack of progress in processing applications. They do not appear to be expedited at the rate people would desire.

We recognise there are serious environmental issues at stake and these matters of concern must be adequately considered during the consultation process but at the very least the Minister should make every effort to ensure the process is in some way defined and that an adequate but not unduly excessive timeframe is allowed for the submission of observations and presentations from the various bodies and groups interested in whatever applications are made.

We welcome the observations to be presented to the Minister's Department but some limit must be put in place to ensure we can deal with delays. If we want to move this legislation forward and making it work we must set the bar at a reasonable height for ourselves and 30 days would be a reasonable limit in that regard. It should not be so open-ended that it goes on forever. I ask the Minister to consider our request favourably.