Earlier I circulated copies of the presentation which is designed to give members some background information on the directive and to identify some of the issues facing Ireland in implementing it. The second page shows the format of the presentation.
I will start with some summary slides dealing with the main issues arising from the directive. I will then outline the background to how the directive originated and highlight the existing measures in place to protect the marine environment. There is one slide indicating the progress of the directive through the environment working Council and a few dealing with a regional perspective, including Ireland's exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf and the proposed eco-regions. I will then elaborate on the implementation timetable, to put flesh on the bones of the briefing note we supplied to the committee yesterday. I will discuss the impact on the Department, identify some of the indicative costs that the Commission and the United Kingdom have identified and conclude with the main points of the presentation.
Turning to the third slide, the directive should be considered a framework directive with an overall goal of protecting and conserving the marine environment. It requires member states to develop strategies to manage their marine environment. To do this, they will have to co-operate and work on producing coherent marine strategies relating to eco-regions, of which there are 11. The ultimate aim of the directive is to produce good environmental status by 2021.
As members will be aware from the briefing material, the proposed directive is based on the sixth environmental action programme, adopted in 2002. The action programme was the result of a long and involved European consultation process which identified seven strands, of which the marine environment was one. The others were air quality, sustainable use of resources, waste prevention, recycling, pesticides, soil quality and the urban environment. Out of this environmental action programme the Commission produced a communication in 2005 on the thematic strategy for the protection and conservation of the marine environment, from which the draft marine strategy directive was produced. However, it should be seen in the wider context of an EU maritime policy, on which the Department is launching a national consultation process in January. The marine strategy directive represents an environmental pillar of this yet to be formed policy.
Slide No. 7 shows the main measures in place to protect the marine environment. I have highlighted the two measures on which the Department takes a lead role. That is not to say it does not play a role in the other measures and directives but it takes the lead role on those two. I will briefly mention later the strategic environmental assessment directive which the Department has implemented with regard to petroleum exploration.
Slide No. 8 shows the progress of the framework marine environment directive which has been negotiated through the environment working group. Political agreement on a Common Position was reached yesterday, with a Second Reading scheduled for Parliament in Q1 or Q2 of 2007. This would mean Second Reading agreement possibly by the end of Q2 but more likely conciliation in Q3 and Q4.
Slide No. 9 shows the proposed eco-regions. Most notably, regions E and K relate to Ireland. The Celtic Sea in region E is highlighted in yellow and region K, the north-east Atlantic, is highlighted in blue.
The next slide shows Ireland's exclusive economic zone and the delineation of Ireland's continental shelf. In slide No. 11 I have superimposed the latter two slides onto the proposed eco-regions. This highlights the substantial task ahead for Ireland in implementing the directive.
Slide No. 12 contains the implementation timetable. Member states have three years in which to transpose the directive. Four years from the entry into force of the directive, Ireland will need to produce a current environmental status and an impact of human activities thereon. Likewise, within the same timeframe — four years after the date of entry into force — Ireland will also need to identify good environmental status for the waters concerned. Within a further year, Ireland will need to identify a series of environmental targets and associated indicators associated with good environmental status.
I now turn to slide No. 13. Six years after the introduction of the directive, Ireland will need to have established a comprehensive monitoring programme. By 2016, Ireland will be required to develop a programme of measures that will either maintain good environmental status or bring those waters not so designated up to such a level. By 2018, Ireland is required to have implemented this programme of measures with the aim, by 2021, of having a good environmental status for our waters.
Slide No. 14 deals with the impact on the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. I do not propose to talk about the fisheries aspects too much. I have included two points and I understand that Dr. Beamish appeared before the committee last week. As regards coastal zone management, the directive will need to be included in the current coastal zone regulatory processes.
Slide No. 15 deals with the impact upon petroleum exploration. Petroleum exploration is currently regulated under OSPAR and national instruments. I touched briefly earlier on the fact that strategic environmental assessments are being implemented concerning petroleum exploration, the first of which was undertaken earlier this year. Another one will be undertaken next year. The work on strategic environmental assessments will feed into the initial assessment that is required four years after the implementation of the directive. Likewise, underwater noise is also being taken account of in the directive and will form a part of the strategic environmental assessments.
Slide No. 16 deals with indicative costs. The Commission was required to produce an impact assessment, which is has done. It has identified the establishment of a framework costing approximately €90 million, with a recurrent annual cost of €70 million. Alternatively, the UK carried out a partial regulatory impact assessment. Using the same methodology, it estimated a cost to the UK of €6 million with a recurrent annual cost of €4.5 million. However, using an alternative methodology, it was identified that the potential cost could be in the region of €37 million per year.
The successful implementation of the directive will require a close interdepartmental approach. Likewise, in the area of the Celtic Sea, in particular, close co-ordination with the UK will be required. Ireland will also be required to implement a public consultation on the monitoring programme and indicators, as well as the need to establish a comprehensive programme for the economic and social assessment implications.