Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
47. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the involvement he or his Department has had in the development of planned legislation in relation to marine protected areas; his views on the progress of maritime planning in the absence of these protected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61541/21]
View answerThe development of planned legislation in relation to marine protected areas (MPAs) is being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage which recently ran a public consultation on the report of the expert advisory group on MPAs entitled “Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network”. My Department responded positively to that report, and is supportive of the need to protect marine biodiversity while also enabling our climate targets to be met.
Work on a revised Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) has been initiated by my Department. This involves participation across Government and the collation of all available, relevant data on our marine resource. The aim is to provide an evidence base for the identification of areas most suitable for the sustainable development of renewable energy technologies, while also considering marine biodiversity. This work will also be of value to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the MPA designation process.
