Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct in saying that we have moved from 2.4% at the outset of this Government to 10% of waters under strict protection as special protection areas, SPAs, for marine birds, including the east coast and the seas off Wexford, which is the largest SPA in the history of the State. I have established a marine advisory group, which is a high-level scientific group, which has overseen the ecological sensitivity analysis of the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea. Both of those were published in 2022 and 2024. In each case, these comprehensive analyses consisted of scientific evaluation, which is critically important to the MPA process. This work is done. It is not to say that nothing has been done. Significant work has been completed. Notwithstanding that, as I said earlier, it is frustrating from my perspective. We had expected not just to have it published but perhaps enacted at this stage. It is a complex Bill, as the Deputy will appreciate. We are making every effort. I meet my teams weekly. I met them this morning to get an update. It is with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. We are waiting for its final drafting instructions. We have done other significant work. We will be launching an MPA LIFE project, with €24 million of funding, to complement that. We have worked to support fisheries and the ambition they want to set out for marine protected areas. We have already brought in the basking shark protection. Every effort is being made. I cannot give the Deputy a date for this. I wish I could. We are making every effort to get this published as soon as possible.

See this speech in context