The Irish government has approved new legislation which is set to deliver a major revamp of the country's marine spatial and consent planning system.

The revised General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill 2019 seeks to establish in law a new marine planning system, which consists of a development management regime from the high water mark to the outer limit of the State's continental shelf administered by An Bord Pleanála and the coastal local authorities.

It will replace existing State and development consent regimes and streamline arrangements on the basis of a single consent principle.

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Welcoming the approval, Chair of the Oireachtas Climate Action Committee, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton commented: "This legislation will bring about major reform of Ireland's marine spatial and consent planning system and will modernise and streamline the process for approving maritime infrastructure projects, including offshore renewable energy.

"It will also play a critical role in the harnessing of the potential of our offshore renewable energy resources and the transition towards a sustainable, secure and competitive energy system and in meeting our climate change goals.

"The present legislation is piecemeal and rife with delays and anomalies. We need modern legislation in this area and so the proposal for a single consent regime is very welcome."

Deputy Naughton added: "This Bill is part of the Government's efforts to tackle climate change, provide cleaner air, and create the green jobs and businesses of the future.

"It is vital that we get this piece of legislation right and I look forward to considering it at committee stage in due course."

(CM/MH)