Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the recently launched national discussion on the EU maritime Green Paper; the way he will ensure that all stakeholders are properly consulted and incorporated into this process; the Government's position on the Green Paper; the timeframe for the publication of the national position on the maritime Green Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5259/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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A National Consultation on the EU Maritime Green Paper was launched on 31 January by my colleague, Deputy John Browne. In addition to the usual press release and newspaper advertisements in national and local and press, Minister of State Browne has written to over 250 individuals and organisations inviting them to participate in the consultation process. A dedicated website has also been set up to facilitate responses.

Interested parties have been asked to submit their views by 2 March. Following this a National Conference will be held on 6 March, at which it is intended to explore the issues raised by the Green Paper further and facilitate the involvement of interested parties and stakeholders. Commissioner Borg will be in attendance at the conference and will deliver the keynote speech.

In tandem with this process an inter-departmental committee has been established to oversee the national consultation and to prepare a Government position on the Green Paper once the views of interested parties have been received. It is intended to draft this Government position during the month of March to facilitate a timely response to the European Commission in April.

The Green Paper cuts across a range of sectors and issues including maritime transport, industry, coastal regions, energy, fisheries, aquaculture, the marine environment and socioeconomic cohesion. It represents a significant challenge but also an important opportunity for Ireland and the EU to apply new strategies and innovative thinking for the wider marine sector. Ireland's contribution to the formulation of the Green Paper has been referred to, on a number of occasions, by Commissioner Borg and is referenced in the Green Paper itself. Specifically the EUROCEAN Conference held in 2004 during the Irish Presidency, which culminated in the "Galway Declaration", is cited as influencing the Green Paper's message of the imperative of sustainable development of the oceans and seas.

As an island nation with over 220 million acres of maritime territory I think it is vitally important that Ireland continue to play a key role in development of maritime policy in the EU. As part of this process Minister John Browne and I are committed to overseeing a well-run public consultation and the formulation of well thought out position paper for submission to the European Commission.