Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 14:

In page 12, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “Rights and jurisdiction of State in respect of the Continental shelf

19.Notwithstanding, section 18, in respect of the Continental Shelf, the State has—

(a) sovereign rights—

(i) for the purpose of the exploration, exploitation, restoration, protection, conservation and management of the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and

(ii) with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, including—

(I) the production of energy from the water, currents and winds,

(II) the storage of natural gas and other energy products,

(III) the recovery of geothermal energy, and

(IV) the sequestration of carbon,

and

(b) jurisdiction with regard to—

(i) the establishment and use of artificial islands and installations,

(ii) marine scientific research, and

(iii) the restoration, protection and preservation of the marine environment.”.

This is probably the most substantial section I have. The amendment proposes to insert a new section on the rights and jurisdiction of the State in respect of the continental shelf. I mentioned the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the State in relation to the continental shelf, which only mentions offences. I look to widen that to include the rights and jurisdiction of the State. When I mention rights, I am also talking about responsibilities. This amendment would make it clear that the Irish State has responsibility for the vindication of what are in many cases international rights, best practices, obligations and commitments, and for the regulation of those in respect of the continental shelf area.

This amendment is stating that beyond the criminal prosecution of particular offences on a narrow remit within the continental shelf area, the State would have those wider powers, including the production of energy from water currents and winds, the storage of natural gas and other energy products, geothermal energy and the sequestration of carbon. We know that the sequestration of carbon will be a major activity that will be taking place in our marine waters. It is almost the other side of the energy provisions that were originally envisaged at the time of this convention being put in place. It was all about energy extraction and production but, in fact, energy conservation and sequestration will be what we will be looking to in the marine environment in the future. It is an appropriate extension of the original powers envisaged in the convention.