Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to continue pre-legislative scrutiny of Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 31 January, the Committee will meet at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House with Professor Tasman Crowe, Director, UCD Earth Institute, School of Biology and Environmental Science.

On Thursday, 2 February, the Committee will meet at 9.30am in Committee Room 1 with representatives of the Irish Environmental Network and Wind Energy Ireland.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Steven Matthews said: “The purpose of this Bill is to provide a legislative basis for the designation and effective management of Marine Protected Areas following recommendations to Government of an expert group and subsequent public consultation. At our last meeting, Members were briefed on the Heads of the Bill by officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

“This week we will meet stakeholders and experts to hear their views on the proposed legislation and any suggestions they may have for amendments which they believe could strengthen the Bill. The Committee looks forward to hearing from Professor Crowe on Tuesday afternoon and from the representatives of the Irish Environmental Network and Wind Energy Ireland on Thursday morning.”

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meetings in Committee Room 3 and Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.