Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has been accused of “railroading” the National Marine Planning Framework through the Dáil without pre-legislative scrutiny, as The Irish Times reports.
Opposition TDs say that while they broadly support the framework — which will provide key guidance for planning within Ireland’s marine and coastal areas — they should have more time to scrutinise the 300-page document and explore two specific concerns.
One relates to the fact that the framework would be passed before Ireland’s expanded Marine Protected Area network is fully mapped out.
The other concerns fears among inshore fishing organisations that their livelihoods will be impacted by the development of large-scale offshore wind farms.
The Irish Times has much more on the story HERE.