I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
In January 2022, I expressed my concern at the news of proposed military exercises in the deep seas within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Area.
It is understood that underwater sounds such as active military sonar can have devastating consequences for cetaceans including some of our rarest marine mammal species, notably the deep-diving and rarely-seen Blue whale, Sperm whale and beaked whales. It can cause significant disruption to their hearing systems and normal behaviour, and may lead to permanent or even lethal injury. Accordingly, I wrote to both Minister Coveney and the Russian Ambassador to express these concerns.
Regulation 27 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-2021 outlines public authority responsibilities and duties under the 2011 Regulations and states that public authorities shall exercise their functions in compliance with the Birds and Habitats Directives.
It creates a responsibility for compliance with the Directives that permeates throughout the public sector, rather than solely within the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Other public authorities that would have responsibility for activities in the Irish EEZ include the Naval Service (overseen by the Department of Defence) and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority; the identification of the appropriate competent authority would be contingent upon the location and type of activities proposed.
My Department did not receive notification of or applications relating to the issue outlined by the Deputy.
