Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2014
175. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the development of a marine spatial planning system including public consultation steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44536/14]
View answerThe development of a framework for maritime spatial planning is one of the actions set out in Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland. Implementation of actions identified in the plan is supervised by the Marine Co-ordination Group, which is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Furthermore, the EU adopted Directive 2014/89/EU which establishes a framework for maritime spatial planning earlier this year. The Directive is binding on all coastal Member States.
The Marine Coordination Group’s consideration of how maritime spatial planning might be implemented is on-going. Whilst I cannot prejudge the group’s deliberations on the matter, it may be assumed that public consultation will form part of the process of the development of such a system.
