Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 1435: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the obligations on his Department to designate marine special areas of conservation under Natura 2000; if his Department has been in communication with the European Commission in that regard; the position of the Commission in relation to same; and if migratory paths for salmon have been considered for inclusion as nominated areas. [2520/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In common with other EU member states, Ireland has an obligation to complete the designation of special areas of conservation for certain marine habitats and species. Following on this obligation, my Department has transmitted some 420 candidate SACs for adoption by the European Commission, of which more than 70 have a marine element and 28 were chosen principally for the wealth of their marine biological diversity. Criteria for selection of sites for certain marine habitats are still under scientific review at EU level. In the meantime further designation proposals, focusing particularly on cold water coral reefs, are being prepared within my Department. Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, or the habitats directive, provides the basis for the selection and designation of SACs. As salmon is listed in the directive as a species for which sites are to be designated only in fresh water, migratory routes for salmon are not being considered in the selection of marine SACs.