Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the marine protected areas legislation is going to have its final draft published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42267/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been working in close collaboration with Parliamentary drafters over the past months to develop the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will be published before the end of the year.

The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This proposed legislation will provide us with the tool to achieve this while, along with the Maritime Area Planning Act, ensuring sustainable use of the sea.