Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that some Members might have missed the debate earlier. The idea behind the amendments is to recognise the importance of marine spatial planning and that we are putting together a national plan. I am conscious that the Senator might have missed the earlier discussion, but that is exactly what we are doing. We are putting in place a process such that in the coming two years or thereabouts we will formulate a marine spatial plan or a national plan for the marine for the whole country. What the Senator has asked for is exactly what we are doing. What we are trying to include in the legislation is a process to ensure it will involve all of the consultation for which the Senator has called. It is not guaranteed to happen without including it in primary legislation and that is what we are trying to. Others have referenced the process that involves going back to a committee. That was not my plan. My plan was to be here and in the Dáil. Certainly, it is something at which we can look if Senators believe it merits consideration.

To be honest, I think there is confusion about what we are inserting. The marine spatial plan will be debated for two years. We will go through all stages of consultation. The first debate in this House will take place one hour from now. We are starting a process. We published a road map last autumn and the process will continue for a couple of years. I am unsure whether the Senator missed some of the discussion on the national planning framework, but we had many debates in the House on the matter.