I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 41 together.
The position is that, when a body makes application to my Department for a foreshore lease, licence or permission under the Foreshore Acts 1933-1998, the application and supporting documents are considered by my Department and its specialist advisors. Where appropriate, the Marine Institute and the Central and-or relevant regional fisheries board are also consulted. All applications and supporting documentation are also copied to Dúchas to ascertain if, having regard to its statutory obligations to protect special areas of conservation, habitats, national monuments, including marine archaeological artefacts, etc. it has any objection in principle to the proposed development.
Assuming that there is no objection in principle from either my Department or the other consultees any further information required is obtained from the applicant and the matter is then put to public consultation. Where the development is of a minor nature the consultation period is one of 21 days or, where an environmental impact statement, is required, a statutory one month period is required. Following the consultation period any objections or comments communicated to my Department are copied to the applicant for a response. Both objections and comments and the applicant's response thereto are considered by the Department and its specialist advisors. When this process is completed my officials make a submission to me in which they outline the detail of the proposed development, summarise the content of the objections and the applicant's response and make a recommendation. After careful consideration I make my decision in the matter.