The Government's decision to abandon a dedicated department of marine is contrary to the European Commission's call for integrated maritime policies, according to a newly-published analysis.
Dr Ronan Long, who holds the Jean Monnet chair of European commercial law at NUI Galway, warns that Ireland will jettison benefits gained from existing marine policies and structures if it continues to head in the "opposite direction" to EU coastal states.
Ireland has the opportunity to be a "world leader" in marine resource management, utilisation and scientific research, with "strong political leadership and stakeholder support", Dr Long says in his analysis, entitled Marine Resource Law.
Handling of the Kowloon Bridge ship wreck and subsequent serious pollution incident off the southwest coast in 1986 led to a decision by former taoiseach Charles Haughey to form a dedicated department of marine.
Its blueprint was drawn up by former Bord Iascaigh Mhara chief executive Brendan O'Kelly. However, after the 2002 general election, the department's title was briefly dropped, and then combined with communications and energy by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Last year, maritime safety was assigned to the department of transport, and other key marine functions were spread among several departments, including, agriculture, transport, energy and environment, after this year's general election.
Foreshore legislation to protect the coastal environment has been split between the four departments at a time of increasing developer-led pressure on the coastline.
Maritime policies adopted by Canada and Australia mirror the trend within the EU towards co-ordinated approaches, Dr Long notes. Canada's approach requires combining the functions of a broad range of government departments and agencies, he says.
In an Irish context, this means strengthening the department of marine - as in, returning it to a full ministerial brief, he says.
