FAQs
WHAT IS THE MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE?
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires EU Member States to develop a strategy
to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in their marine waters by 2020. That
strategy must include a Programme of Measures that will meet targets set in order to achieve GES.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DATE?
Ireland has been working on the development of a strategy for Ireland’s marine waters since the
directive was transposed into Irish Law in 2011. The following work has been completed:

An Initial Assessment of Ireland’s Marine Waters to establish the current status of
Ireland’s marine waters;

A series of environmental targets and indicators were established to guide progress
towards achieving or maintaining GES;

A co-ordinated monitoring programme for the on-going assessment of GES has been
established.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
Ireland has developed a draft Programme of Measures for Ireland’s marine waters designed to meet
targets set to achieve or maintain GES by 2020.
This public consultation document sets out a summary of these measures, the background to their
development and presents a detailed list of individual measures in Appendix I.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONSULTATION?
We are now looking for feedback on Ireland’s draft Programme of Measures.
We are not seeking feedback on Ireland’s characteristics of GES, environmental targets and
monitoring programmes. These were the subject of previous public consultations and are not covered
under the scope of this public consultation.
HOW LONG IS THE PERIOD OF CONSULTATION?
Public consultation on Ireland’s draft Programme of Measures will commence on 27th November for
a period of 9 weeks. Submissions on the draft Programme of Measures will be accepted between 27th
November 2015 and 29th January 2016 inclusive.
WHO WILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS CONSULTATION?
This consultation will be of interest to:

The general public

groups or individuals who use or have an interest in the sea;

business users of the sea;

national and local interest groups;

statutory advisers;

Governments in other European Union (EU) Member States.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONSULTATION?
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) is responsible for
carrying out the consultation on the Programme of Measures.
HOW CAN I GIVE MY FEEDBACK?
In order to assist the DECLG in the compilation of submissions and comments, respondents to this
consultation on Ireland’s draft Programme of Measures are kindly requested to use the online form
provided at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/AboutUs/PublicConsultations/2015/.
Alternatively, submissions and comments on this document may be forwarded by email to:
msfd@environ.ie or by post to;
MSFD Public Consultation
Water Quality Section
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government,
Newtown Road,
Wexford
Y35 AP90
Any queries regarding this consultation process or procedures should be sent via email to
msfd@environ.ie.
Responses must be submitted by the 29th January 2016.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE FEEDBACK I SUBMIT?
All comments received within the timeframe of this public consultation period that relate to Ireland’s
draft Programme of Measures will be assessed.
The assessment of these comments and feedback will be used during the finalisation of the
Programme of Measures.
The finalised Programme of Measures will be published and reported to the European Commission.
A public consultation response document, based on the outcomes of this public consultation process,
will also be prepared and published on the DECLG’s website.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Following the review of feedback received from this public consultation on Ireland’s draft Programme
of Measures, the programme will be finalised and reported to the European Commission by the end of
March 2016 and made operational by the end of 2016.
The development and implementation of the Ireland’s Programmes of Measures is part of Ireland’s
overall Marine Strategy. The development and implementation of the Marine Strategy is a cyclical
process that will see Ireland and other Member States repeat the process every six years, commencing
from 2012. This will ensure that, as new and more detailed information becomes available through
better scientific understanding, the results from on-going monitoring and the implementation of the
Programme of Measures, Member States will update their assessments and move towards achieving
or maintaining GES. The second period of reporting will commence in 2018.