Madam, - Your Editorial (Nov 26th) highlights the need for marine planning and the fragmentation of responsibility for our coastal zone.
It is incredible that in Ireland today no planning permission is required for construction below the high tide mark.
Instead, building at sea is controlled by the Foreshore Act 1933, drawn up before large-scale construction at sea was envisaged.
Under the terms of this Act, the Minister for the Marine has sole authority to award foreshore leases for construction in Irish waters without the statutory involvement of local authorities and with no public right of appeal.
Such unfettered power is out of place in any modern democracy.
Another major cause for concern is that currently no one appears to have responsibility for protection of our seascapes, an integral part of coastal landscapes and a valuable national asset in terms of quality of life, heritage and tourism.
It makes no sense for local authorities to have the power to designate important coastal "views and prospects" for protection in county development plans and then to have no statutory control over developments offshore which will materially alter those views and prospects.
Coastal Concern Alliance,an independent, voluntary organisation, has been set up to campaign for the reform of the Foreshore Act 1933 and the adoption of an integrated management policy for our coastal areas.
All political parties agree that such reform is necessary.
Action is now urgently needed with unprecedented, large-scale, industrial installations, notably marine renewables, currently proposed by developers for our sensitive coastal waters.
While such developments could undoubtedly bring benefits, it is important that our outdated regulatory regime is overhauled to ensure that their economic, environmental and social impacts are properly and democratically considered.
On May 18th this year, John Gormley TD, then chairman of the Green Party, wrote to our organisation and stated "The Green Party agree that no further foreshore leases for major construction be granted in Irish waters until the Foreshore Act 1933 has been revised and adequate procedures for public participation introduced".
Now that Mr Gormley is Minister for the Environment, we look to him to honour this commitment. - Yours, etc,
HELEN GELLETLIE,
VALERIE FREEMAN,
ANN C FITZGERALD,
Coastal Concern Alliance,
Thomastown Crescent,
Sallynoggin,
Co Dublin.