Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their contributions. The marine planning policy statement is a high-level document that sets out the Government’s principles and priorities for maritime planning. Section 6(5) of the Bill sets out a brief list of the high-level policy framework that will be taken into account when preparing the statement. However, this list is not exhaustive and any matters that inform this high-level policy document will be considered. Heritage is one of the many areas that will be considered as part of the preparation of the statement. Section 6(5) requires that regard is had to the national marine planning framework. Chapter 7.3 of that framework is dedicated to heritage assets. Accordingly, since heritage assets are included in the national marine planning framework to which the Minister must have regard when preparing the marine planning policy statement, and section 6(5)(h) of the Bill requires the Minister to have regard to any current policy of the Government relating to maritime planning, which would include the national heritage plan, it is not necessary to make separate provision here for the national heritage plan. I thank Senator Boyhan for his comments and for consistently raising the issue of heritage in this House. It is the case that Heritage Ireland 2030 will go to Government shortly after Christmas and this will automatically update as new policy for the period up to 2030. In that regard, it is not necessary to make a distinctive, separate provision in this legislation for it.

On amendments Nos. 8 and 9, the EU recommendation on integrated coastal zone management is not referenced and therefore, it would not be appropriate to include it here. Section 6(5)(h) of the Bill requires the Minister to have regard to any current policy of the Government relating to maritime planning, which would likely include any EU recommendation on integrated coastal zone management. The marine strategy framework directive is already included in section 6 of the Bill at section 6(5)(e). The suite of environmental policies included in the national marine planning framework will afford protection to the marine environment and this would include any interim measures to protect areas of the marine environment as agreed by Government. As I said earlier, the marine protected areas legislation is in the drafting process at the moment. We are also considering the huge volume of submissions we had in relation to the expert group report and are confident that we will have a complementary set of objectives around marine protected areas with our marine planning framework. Environmental protections are already included in the legislation, vis-à-vis planning applications, environmental impact assessments and so forth. The marine protected area process has been really inclusive and broad and will certainly support any of the actions and objectives that Senator Higgins is striving to achieve in the context of marine protection and biodiversity.