Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the future timetable of the Our Ocean Wealth policy initiative now that the public consultation period has ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48424/12]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the recent report Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth - An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland; if he will explain the way the report's recommendations will impact on the development of marine facilities and tourism including at national fisheries' harbours such as Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47632/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 126 together.

Following a successful public consultation process, the Government has published an integrated Marine Plan for Ireland entitled ‘Harnessing our Ocean Wealth’ which takes account of the various submissions received in the public consultation process and builds on the ongoing and future work of the various Government Departments involved in this area . The plan sets out a roadmap for the Government’s vision, high level goals and integrated actions across policy, governance and business to enable Ireland’s marine potential to be realised in the coming years. The plan also provides a new momentum for growth in the marine area and involves Departments working together more efficiently and effectively on the diverse issues related to the marine.

It is designed to contribute to getting the environment right for investment and so stimulate the private sector investment which will be crucial to achieving the targets outlined in the plan. As well as driving the potential of our marine economy, the plan will allow us to strike a balance between protecting the marine environment, its species and habitats, and maximising the use of its resources as a source of economic growth.

The plan sets out an overarching target to double the value of Our Ocean Wealth to 2.4 % of GDP by 2030 and moving toward the EU average of 3.5%. The Government has also set a 2020 target of exceeding €5bn in annual turnover. This would represent growth of approximately 50% drawn from a diverse range of marine sectors including marine and coastal tourism, marine commerce, seafood, shipping, oil and gas, renewable energy, marine manufacturing and other marine industries. The growth targets are based on existing government programmes such as my Department’s Food Harvest 2020 in relation to seafood, sector specific projections, for example, Failte Ireland covering Maritime and Coastal Tourism and base levels of marine economic activity as measured in the most comprehensive recent economic report, Ireland’s ocean Economy 2010. Socio- Economic Marine Research Unit in NUI Galway.

A copy of the published plan is available at

Moving to the impact on marine facilities and tourism at the fisheries harbours, my Department has responsibility for the management and development of the six Fishery Harbour Centres, including Howth.

The Fishery Harbour Centres are unique in that they have been set up to provide a dedicated service to the Fishing Industry. It is policy at each Fishery Harbour Centre that priority is always given to the needs of the fishermen and indeed the significant capital investment at the Fishery Harbour Centres has reflected this.

However, in addition to serving the Fishing Industry, they also play an important role in the Irish tourist and marine leisure industry and also provide facilities for the support of passenger and cargo ferries to the islands. There are comprehensive marine leisure facilities at Howth, Dingle and Ros An Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centres which work well alongside the needs of the fishing industry. My Department will continue to take every opportunity to facilitate and promote marine tourism at the Fishery Harbour Centres subject of course to its compatibility with the needs of fishermen and budgetary constraints. The various strands of the Integrated Marine Plan (IMP) which I have outlined are designed to provide a new momentum for growth in this area for harbours such as Howth. The key issue is the development of a strong inter agency approach which will see Departments and stakeholders working together more efficiently and effectively on the diverse issues related to the marine.