Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The subsection is an amendment of the European Communities Foreshore Regulations, SI 404 of 2009. The amendment, as proposed, would require the applicant to advertise public consultation in newspapers within 30 days of making the application. These applications which require an environmental impact assessment are very complex and will often take years to compile. The Department must first assess the completeness of the application and then arrange the logistics of making the application available in local Garda stations, libraries and other places. In addition, the applications are usually advertised in fishing and coastal newspapers and periodicals. The amendment would substantially reduce the access of local communities to the environmental impact statement and application, running counter to the State's obligation under the Aarhus Convention. For that reason, I cannot accept it. I understand the intent of the Senator but it would not be feasible in this instance.