Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am quite alarmed. In the briefing, I had asked if the 30 ft. issue would be affected, and I was told that it would not be. I was looking for reassurance in the House that it would not be affected, but the Minister of State has now told us that will be affected. Effectively, this has begun to look like another land grab by persons who may be given licences of particular kinds.

It is extremely concerning to include: “and always to have included, the subsoil below”. If we are talking about an indefinite depth that is quite significant. There is a reason the 30 ft. criterion had been put in place before. That is not to say that there might not be another mechanism that could apply in relation to those projects that may go below 30 ft. The idea that a foreshore licence given to anybody automatically includes an indefinite depth is a significant departure from the foreshore Act and the previous understanding of it. I am surprised by this. I will note that it is contradictory to what I was told in the briefing. Perhaps it is an issue that others will be able to explore further in the Dáil. I will press the amendment.