Submissions needed before March 1st 2013 (see text below):
The recent surrender of the foreshore licence to drill in Dublin Bay showed what can be achieved when we all work together towards a common goal. However Providence Resources have stated that they will apply for a new licence and this could happen within months.
So what can we do?
What we can do is to keep on going…
We can enter submissions, as groups and individuals, to the following government proposals, both of which have March 1st 2013 deadlines:
Designated Special Area of Conservation from Rockabill to Dalkey Island.
On 3rd December 2012 Minister for the Arts, Gaeltacht and Heritage Jimmy Deenihan proposed 27,000 hectares of Dublin Bay as a special area of conservation (SAC). You can have your say in supporting this proposal.
The closing date for submissions is 1st March 2013.
Please write to the Minister at ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie
Submission guidelines:
it is important that individual submissions are written as this means they will be considered as unique and not grouped together as one submission. Your submission can be as brief or detailed as you wish.
Reasons for supporting the SAC designation proposal:
•You may live or work in or near Dublin Bay and you see it as a vital amenity
•You enjoy spending leisure time in Dublin Bay – Walking near, swimming, diving, fishing, kayaking, sailing, boating etc
•You appreciate and wish to protect the unique wild life that flourishes in Dublin Bay, particularly the Harbour Porpoise and the reef habitat.
•You recognize that Dublin Bay is a unique geographical location with its proximity to a capital city and must be preserved for our tourist industry as well as its citizens.
•The recent granting and surrendering of a licence to drill in Dublin Bay made you conscious of the need to prevent our bay from becoming industrialized and worse destroyed by an oil spill.
A New Planning and Consent Architecture for Development in the Marine area.
This consultation paper has been produced by Minister Jan O’Sullivan to facilitate development of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, an integrated Marine Plan for Ireland. This represents an inter- departmental government undertaking to meet Ireland’s obligations under eu
directives to prepare strategies for our marine waters.
This is an important consultation document, but not without its limitations, one of which is that this document only refers to the foreshore and not all marine waters.
It is important to say in your submission that all marine waters need to be included.
The closing date for submissions is 1st March 2013.
The document and details can be viewed at http://www.environ.ie/en/foreshore/PublicConsultations/
in this submission, which once again can be as long or as short as you wish, you can use Dublin bay as an example of a thriving marine sector and the need to balance commercial activities with conservation.
Protect Our Coast fully welcomes the surrender of the Dublin Bay Foreshore Licence by Providence Resources announced this afternoon.
We fully appreciate the hard work from everyone in our group as well as Dublin Bay Concern, An Taisce, Local Communities, Save Our Seafront and other groups and individuals that helped achieve this result.
This is an example of how coordinated people power, political lobbying, creating awareness and good investigative work can bring about positive results.
The public who were given very little time to respond began over time to realize the environmental risks that drilling so close to the shore (4 miles) could bring along with the fact that the current national oil/gas licencing terms would give little or no revenue to the state. This was clearly an all risk no-win situation for the citizen.
The main issues of concern since Protect Our Coast was launched on Facebook in response to the licence application on January 6th 2012 have been:
1. Environmental impact of drilling 4 miles from the shore and the negative effect of the 2D seismic survey in Dublin Bay’s shallow waters.
2. Inadequate fiscal terms. Ireland has the second most favorable licencing terms to oil companies in the world.
3. The total lack of public consultation.
We understand from the announcement that Providence Resources have said that they intend to apply again for the licence, we will be evaluating this prospect along with their full statement over the coming days in co-ordination with all of the other non-political groups that are concerned with this matter.
More information to follow.
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Statement 4th October 2012
We are deeply disappointed by Minister Jan O’Sullivan’s decision to allow Providence to drill for oil so close to the Dublin/Wicklow shoreline. It is lamentable that a public inquiry was not held prior to the granting of this foreshore licence.
Protect Our Coast are in current conversation with the parties representing various interest groups, all of whom are shocked by the decision, and will issue a press release in due course.
Protect Our Coast’s primary disappointment is with the reasoning given by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), whose recommendations have formed the basis of the Minister’s decision. We feel that the main issues of environmental damage, public consultation, fiscal terms and future alternative energy sources have been given no proper consideration in this decision.
Decision Documentation – 03 October 2012
Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
Doc info: Author: Terry McMahon Title: Finding of no significance effect report: Saved: 1/10/12 – 09:56:31
Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report
Doc info: Author: Temp1 Title:”Is Project included in First Schedule of the 1999 EIA regulations” Saved: 1/10/12 – 09:59:15
MLVC Report
Doc info: Author: Terry McMahon Title: REPORT OF THE MARINE LICENCE VETTING COMMITTEE (MLVC) Saved: 1/10/12 – 09:59:15
Notice of Determination
Doc info: Author: cathal Title: Note on the transfer of functions under the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2009 Saved: 03/20/12 – 09:59:24
Other Concerned Groups and information sources: