New marine legislation will safeguard Irish seas — all future planning applications must consider food, energy, and economic security

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

A new maritime Bill approved by Government will “ensure streamlined, effective, and efficient delivery of maritime planning in Ireland” once it is enacted.

Speaking about the legislation, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said it will “provide the mechanism for Ireland to reach its target of protecting 30 pc of our maritime area, in an ecologically coherent manner, by 2030”.

“In addition, the Bill will make improvements to the current maritime planning regime – to support the regulatory system and ensure the efficient delivery of maritime planning in Ireland,” the minister added.

Minister of State Timmy Dooley, who this week hosted an Ocean Act Conference in the National Opera House in Wexford, said the legislation will continue to “support the attainment of the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the National Marine Planning Framework, and it will include an in-depth public participation process”.

This week also saw the first statutory Marine Planning Policy Statement presented to Government. It will ensure a consistent approach to marine planning in Ireland; it will guide policymaking, plan making and decision-making.

“The Marine Planning Policy Statement sets out the strategic principles of marine planning policy, that the Government expects relevant planning bodies to observe. It outlines Ireland’s key marine planning priorities for the management of activities in the maritime space,” explained Minister O’Brien. “It also outlines how marine policy will be monitored and reviewed.

“For example, it sets out that all future marine plans, proposals and planning applications must have regard to key considerations – such as security: food security, energy security and economic security.”

The Ocean Act Conference in Wexford, which was part of Ireland’s programme of events during its Presidency, brought together senior European policymakers, Government representatives, industry leaders, environmental organisations, and maritime stakeholders to discuss the future of Europe’s ocean governance.

Minister of State Timmy Dooley speaking to delegates at the EU Ocean Act Conference in Wexford.

The two-day programme featured a series of high-level panel discussions involving representatives from the European Commission, Member States, academia, industry, and international organisations. Topics discussed covered ocean governance, maritime security, sustainable economic development, ocean observation, and innovation.

Minister Dooley, hosted the conference, and said it represented a “significant milestone” in Europe’s journey towards a “more coordinated, sustainable, and resilient approach to ocean governance”.

“No single country can address these challenges alone,” he continued. “The ocean connects us all and together we aim to secure healthy oceans for the future. The development of an Ocean Act presents an important opportunity to strengthen coherence across European ocean policy and to develop a more integrated and sustainable framework for the governance of our marine environment.

“Ireland’s Presidency presents a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to that discussion and, as an island nation, our relationship with the ocean is fundamental to our economy, our environment, and our heritage. This conference provides an important opportunity to help shape discussion and engagement on the future direction of European ocean policy and governance.”