Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 16th June, 2017.

I, SIMON COVENEY, Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, 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 2008¹ , hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework)(Amendment) Regulations 2017.

2. The European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 249 of 2011 ) are amended—

(a) in Regulation 5(6) by substituting “A plan of action referred to in paragraph (5)” for “Subject to paragraph (7), a plan of action referred to in paragraph (5)”,

(b) by substituting the following for Regulation 5(7):

“(7) Where a plan of action is devised in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6), the Minister shall, in accordance with Article 5(3) of Directive 2008/56/EC, inform the Commission of the revised timetable, as provided for in that Article and invite the Commission to consider the supportive action referred to in that Article.”,

and

(c) in Regulation 17(2)(a) by substituting “Regulation 9” for “Regulation 10”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

7 June 2017.

SIMON CCOVENEY,

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

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

These Regulations provide further for the transposition into Irish Law of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, giving further effect to Directive 2008/56/EC of 17 June 2008, and amends Statutory Instrument No. 249 of 2011.

1 OJ L164, 25.6.2008 p.19.