Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. We have had a meaningful and good debate on this Bill, which touches on a number of areas. To recap, I wish to set the context because this is an important engagement in the Seanad and, while the Cathaoirleach and I know what that context is, people outside looking in or who will be doing so in future might not. The Bill seeks to regulate the maritime area:

... by means of a National Marine Planning Framework, maritime area consents for the occupation of the maritime area for the purposes of maritime usages that will be undertaken for undefined or relatively long periods of time (including any such usages which also require development permission under the Planning and Development Act 2000) and licences for the occupation of the maritime area for maritime usages that are minor or that will be undertaken for relatively short periods of time, to establish a body corporate, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority [as the Minister of State well knows, it is not a planning authority, and this point is key to my amendment], to grant, revoke and suspend such consents and licences, take administrative responsibility for foreshore authorisations and generally oversee the enforcement of this Act in so far as it relates to such consents and licences, to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000 to provide for how that Act will treat applications for development permission which must have a maritime area consent before being made ...

That is important.