Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2024
213. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2022; when he anticipates this Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37330/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether there is sufficient time left in the 33rd Dáil to enact a Marine Protected Areas Bill 2022 that is sufficiently robust to ensure Ireland meets its international obligation of 30% of Irish seas designated as marine protected areas by 2030; whether he can explain the delays in his Department in bringing this Bill forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37424/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSubstantial progress has been made on drafting the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Bill. Given its potential impact, both as environmental protection legislation and on marine stakeholders, it requires careful drafting. It is a complex Bill, with ongoing legal advice required throughout the drafting process.
An initial comprehensive draft of the MPA Bill was produced in late May this year. However, some issues arose in the process of interdepartmental consultation which require further consideration. An agreement was reached with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to establish an interdepartmental drafting group to address the issues arising. This group worked over the summer period and further drafting instructions have been issued to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I recognise that the Office will need to consider these instructions carefully and it is not excluded that further points of clarification or questions will emerge.
I intend to try to get this Bill published in the lifetime of this Government.
With respect to the 30% target by 2030, it should be noted that, under the Birds and Habitats Directives, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has increased the Natura Network of Protected Areas in the marine from 2.3% at the outset of this Government to almost 10%.
A marine advisory group has also been established, which is a high-level scientific group, that has overseen the ecological sensitivity analyses of the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea. These were published in 2023 and 2024 respectively. In each case, these comprehensive analyses consisted of scientific evaluation, which is critically important to the MPA processes, resulting in the identification of potentially suitable areas for future protection as MPAs. It is hoped that this initiative should support timely designations once the Bill has been enacted.
