Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2017
815. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which the membership of the marine protected area expert advisory group will be selected; the criteria that will be used as part of this selection process; the way in which persons with relevant experience and expertise apply to become part of this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32528/17]
View answerI will shortly establish an expert advisory group whose terms of reference will include the development of a process for the identification, designation and recommendation of candidate marine areas which require protection.
Work is on-going to determine the appropriate composition of the group and relevant selection criteria and I anticipate that a broad range of relevant stakeholders will be represented.
It is envisaged that the input of specialist experts from Government Departments, state agencies, the environmental NGO community and academia will be invited as well as that of commercial and recreational users of the marine space.
