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

I thank both Senators and agree with them on public consultation and how hugely important it is. Senator Boyhan and I have spoken on a number of occasions in this Chamber about the importance of good, robust public engagement and how that brings about better outcomes for all parties. That is something we agree on. However, I consider that much of what is proposed in these amendments would be more appropriately addressed in secondary legislation. When the Bill is passed, my Department will commence the preparation of regulations, which will include further detail on public consultation. This will also include identifying prescribed bodies for specific functions of maritime planning. This is similar to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, which support the 2000 Act and set out the detail for prescribed bodies and timeframes.

I would again take the opportunity to highlight that the Department, throughout the process of developing the current marine planning policy statement and the NMPF, has consistently engaged early and often with all bodies which have a role to play, including the environmental NGOs that are hugely significant and important to us, relevant public sector bodies, and many more. This is the correct way to develop policy rather than by means of the top-down approach of old. The proposal to increase the public consultation period for the marine planning policy statement from four weeks to 16 weeks is considered excessive. We have a continued and significant engagement with all parties as well as the mechanism of online engagement. There are many mechanisms that we have learned about, particularly during Covid, which have allowed us to have good and robust engagement with all sectors and with NGOs, which are significant in all of this as I said.

Senator Higgins referred to public research in coastal communities and to having parity and a level playing field.It is embedded in the Aarhus Convention and many national NGOs particularly have developed a very good means of engagement both at a political level and with the officials on this particular piece of legislation. In that regard, therefore, I will not be accepting these amendments.