S.I. No. 362/2025 - European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

2. In these Regulations “Principal Regulations” means the European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) Regulations 2011 (

S.I. No. 249 of 2011

).

3. These Regulations shall come into operation on 1 August 2025.

4. The Principal Regulations are amended -

(a) in Regulation 4(e) by the substitution of “Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage” for “Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources”,

(b) in Regulation 5(4)(d) by the substitution of “Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage” for “Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources”, and

(c) in Regulation 7(3)(d) by the substitution of “Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage” for “Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

23 July, 2025.

JAMES BROWNE,

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(

This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation

.)

These amending regulations are required to address issues consequential to the transfer of the function of competent authority for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) - as transposed by the European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 249) of 2011 (as amended) - from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to the Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment.

The regulations provide that all references to the “Minister for Communications, Energy and the Environment” in the

S.I. No. 249 of 2011

are replaced by references to the “Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage”.

This substitution

(a) avoids a potential issue whereby the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment might be required to consult himself or herself, and

(b) ensures that, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has an appropriate role and obligations under S.I. 249 of 2011.

1 OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19.

2 OJ L 125, 18.5.2017, p. 27.

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of

25

th July,

2025.

I, JAMES BROWNE, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 3

of the

European Communities Act 1972

(No. 27 of 1972) and for the purpose of giving further effect to Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008

1

as amended by Commission Directive (EU) 2017/845 of 17 May 2017

2

, hereby make the following regulations