Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
278. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline how marine protection measures are monitored and enforced under the National Climate Plan, the actions which were taken in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73359/25]
View answerThe protection and conservation of marine biodiversity forms the cornerstone of marine protection measures under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2025.
Central to achieving this goal, and to achieving and maintaining good environmental status under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is the ongoing expansion of Ireland’s network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
In this regard, work to further develop national Marine Protected Areas legislation saw significant development in 2025 with the decision by Government to amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 thereby enabling the future designation of MPAs via the DMAP process provided for under this Act.
Under the forthcoming amending legislation, protection measures connected to meeting the conservation objectives of future MPA sites will be provided for. These will include provisions for the monitoring of protected sites and for the enforcement of measures necessary for the achievement of the sites’ conservation objectives.
As part of the Government’s regular and ongoing updating of the national Climate Action Plan, the practical implementation of marine conservation and area-based protection measures, including progress on designating MPAs to achieve Ireland’s 30% MPA coverage target by 2030, will continue to be accounted for and reflected clearly in the Plan.
In addition progress with the MPA LIFE Ireland project, and related initiatives where area-based marine protection is concerned, could usefully be monitored and reflected in the plan as it develops further.
