Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the members of the committee that assess applications for foreshore licences and in each case the expertise that they bring to bear on applications; his plans to ensure that persons with an understanding of landscape or visual impact are retained in order to assist in the assessment of offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39411/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Department consults with a range of statutory consultees, various experts within the Department and other state agencies when considering an application for a Foreshore Licence.

In cases where an Environmental Impact Statement is required applications are assessed by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) which advises the Department on the appropriateness of issuing a licence and will generally also advise on conditions which should attach to the licence.

The members of the MLVC have a broad range of skills and experience which qualifies them to assess such applications. Two members of the Committee possess specific qualifications in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment Management and are fully competent in all aspects of this Environmental Impact Assessment process. The current members of the MLVC are:

Dr. Terry McMahon, Chairperson, Marine Institute;

Mr. Trevor Champ, Senior Research Officer, Central Fisheries Board;

Ms Margot Cronin, Marine Environment Chemist, Marine Institute;

Dr. Francis X. O'Beirn, Benthic Monitoring, Marine Institute;

Captain Nick Cantwell, Navigation Expert, Marine Safety Directorate;

Mr Allan Williams, Engineer, Engineering Division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Photomontages are required to be submitted with the Environmental Impact Statement for proposed Offshore electricity generating stations (Wind Farms). The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in consultation with the Local Authorities indicate to the applicant the site at which the photographs should be taken. The proposed installations are then superimposed, to scale, onto these photographs. These photomontages are made available during the public consultation process.