On Wednesday, May 18th, I will chair a webinar, together with Heather Ritchie of Ulster University focused on MSP challenges and opportunities for local authorities on the island of Ireland. The webinar is hosted by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) and supported by the Maynooth University Social Science Institute (MUSSI).
Details below:
Where land meets sea: planning challenges and opportunities at the coast
When: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 15:00 to 16:30
Coastal and marine issues are becoming increasingly relevant for spatial and environmental planning. Ireland’s seas and coastal waters will play a potentially significant role in the transition to renewable energy generation and continue to face pressures from more traditional activities such as shipping, fishing and mineral exploitation. At the same time, it is recognized that the protection of Ireland’s marine ecosystems requires the development, implementation and enforcement of a coherent network of marine protected areas as well as restrictions on human activities at sea and on the coast.
This webinar seeks to address some of the key challenges and opportunities arising from recent policy and legislative initiatives, such as the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) and Maritime Planning Act (RoI) and the Marine Plan for Northern Ireland. We will focus in particular on the role of local planning authorities in relation to marine and coastal issues and explore the potential for local authorities to work together on a cross-boundary basis. The webinar will, draw on a review of the NMPF commissioned by the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) as well as recent scientific research and insights from practice.
Register
Moderators
Dr. Cormac Walsh, Independent Consultant and Senior Research Associate, ICLRD & Dr. Heather Ritchie, Lecturer in Spatial Planning and Energy Policy, Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University and Research Associate, ICLRD
Welcome from ICLRD Chair
Ms. Mary MacIntyre OBE
Presenters:
Dr. Cormac Walsh
Ms. Sybil Berne, Associate, MacCabe Durney Barnes
Dr. Kofi Ansong, Howell Marine Consulting & University of Ulster
Ms. Ellen MacMahon SWAN Sustainable Water Management Network
Q&A